Endeavor’s signature Getting Down to Business speaker series recently featured Rusty Infinger, manager of internal operations at P3 by day, master ninja networker by… all the time.
Rusty knows no stranger. He makes connections at work, at restaurants, at CVS, and at gas pumps. You name the place; he can probably say he’s made a friend or connection there.
We know we can’t all be Rusty. Fortunately, he loves to share his skills (no surprise) and provided some insights for those of us who go into the holiday season stressing about the work parties, the receptions and even the friends and family gatherings.
Here’s what the Ninja Networker himself taught a room full of somewhat anxious introverts.
1. Life = Networking
- Connections everywhere you go will help you in this crazy thing called life. Rusty suggests joining an organization (like the Rotary Club), a faith-based organization, or even chat with someone at your child’s sporting event. Two main takeaways? You can’t network on the sofa, and never talk about three things: religion, politics and Justin Bieber. (I’ve been guilty of bringing up Justin Bieber a time or two, so it’s a good thing I attended this session).
- You know another great place to meet people? Endeavor.
2. Be Memorable
- It’s not who you know, it’s who knows YOU. Find something that makes you memorable to someone. For Rusty, it started with being “the fun sock guy.”
3. Close the Loop
- Sometimes the conversation isn’t going anywhere, or sometimes it’s going too many places. Check out these examples of no talk and large talk and know your strategy.
4. Build Relationships
- Remember names and an interesting fact (like, he’s the guy that always has cool socks). Have a bad memory? Always say, “nice to see you,” vs. “nice to meet.” We’ve all been guilty of meeting someone for the “first time” when it’s actually been nine times.
5. BE YOU
- This one is self-explanatory. Be your true, authentic self. If you try to fake it, people will see through it. Everyone is not for everyone, and that is just fine.
Stick with these tips, and you will find your people. And maybe even find yourself enjoying the journey more than you expect!
