CHICAGO–People within credit union frequently talk of the value of networking as a means of making valuable contacts. But as Lolly Daskal observed, many people also stress over the pressure of trying to connect quickly and impressively with complete strangers—which is why she is offering eight tips for breaking the ice.
“It's definitely a situation that can prey on any insecurities you have, but if you prepare well, you can know that you won't be caught in a long weird silence or trying to think of something to say that doesn't sound awkward,” wrote Daskal, president and CEO of Lead From Within. “Then you'll be ready not just for networking events but for company picnics, conferences, cocktail parties, and any other social events that take you outside your circle of family and friends.”
According to Daskal, here are eight perfect icebreakers to learn and practice:
1. Hi, my name is . . .
“Start with the basics. Put out your hand, flash a genuine smile, make eye contact, and introduce yourself. From there the person you're talking with will almost certainly share their name, and you're already off to a good start.”
2. What do you do?
“People love to talk about themselves,” said Daskal. “If you're inquisitive and curious, most people will pick it up from there and carry the talking. Again, it's a question of starting with the basics.”
3. What business are you in?
“A slightly different version of ‘What do you do?’ Either can be appropriate, depending on the event and the person. You may even want to use both. If you learn that you're talking with an accountant, you can ask, ‘Are you with an accounting firm, or do you work for a business in a different industry?’
4. What do you like about your job?
“Open-ended questions like this are a great follow-up, because they probably can't be answered in a couple of words,” observed Daskal. “It reinforces positivity and communicates interest in their work.”
5. How did you get started in this kind of work?
“You can learn so much about someone if you hear even a bit about their journey instead of focusing exclusively on the here and now. And when people start telling their story, things can really get interesting.”
6. What are you hoping to get out of this event?
“Obviously this isn't a question to ask at, say, a birthday party for a board member, but if the focus is professional, it's worth a try,” said Daskal. “It gives the other person a chance to communicate something about themselves indirectly--is their answer funny, sarcastic, sincere, dismissive?”
7. I love your work.
“If you're talking with someone well-known, expressing admiration for their work can be a good starting place. From there, you can pivot into something more open-ended, like ‘I heard you speak about your new project at last year's conference--how is that going?,’ or ‘One of the ideas in your book really helped me through a rough patch . . . ‘”
8. What advice would you give someone just starting out in your industry?
“With an industry veteran or older person, an open-ended hypothetical like this can lead you to valuable insights. You may also want to ask how the industry has changed during the course of their career,” said Daskal.