How Approachable Are You?

If networking is a must do for you in your business plan, it's very important to be approachable.  What does that mean?  When you are attending events, functions, business centric affairs where you want to build relationships you want people to approach you so be aware that body language is very important here.  The first 20-seconds is where first impressions are made.  Simply smiling, standing confidently in the space of believing in yourself, being open to receive conversations will help you meet people who want to meet you. If you were to choose between introducing yourself to someone who is smiling and open to a dialog or someone who is closed down, not smiling or immersed in their blackberry or iphone, who would you rather introduce yourself to?  Think about this the next time you go to a meeting or event.  An interesting exercise is to observe the room at the next networking event or meeting you attend.  What's going on with people?  How are they engaged and interacting?  Who looks approachable?  Who looks distracted and not comfortable?  If this is hard for you, create a plan where you can be more approachable and practice, practice, practice.

Another component to all of this is offering a firm handshake and asking about the other person instead of going into your story first.  We tend not to listen to others enough and by practicing listening you are setting yourself apart from many others which in the long run will serve you in creating new relationships and business opportunities.