Corporate networking events offer the perfect opportunity for employees to develop invaluable professional relationships while meeting new people. Employees can make their rounds from group to group, telling who they are and what they do. This often leads to strong relationships that improve productivity and efficiency – two key components of any successful business.
The problem with corporate networking events today is that many attendees are stuck in the mindset of handing out their business card and performing little-to-no interaction with the other attendees. There’s certainly nothing wrong with giving someone your business card, but you should put forth the effort to build new relationships and make the most of your time at the event. So, how can you break the ice to start a conversation with someone whom you’ve never met?
Introduce Yourself
Arguably, one of the easiest ways to break the ice at a corporate networking event is to introduce yourself. Walk up to the person and say “Hi, my name is [insert your name] from [insert company or branch].” Most people will gladly respond by telling you their name, at which point you can begin to strike up a conversation. If the person recently performed a speech or presentation, you can direct the conversation towards this topic; otherwise, keep it simple and focused on the event.
Ask a Question
Of course, another foil-proof way to break the ice is to ask a question. If there’s a contact on the floor whom you’d like to meet, think of a question relevant to his or her profession. Being that this is a networking event, attendees are probably expecting to hear some questions. If the contact leads a different branch of the company, for instance, perhaps you could ask them about the nuances between their branch and the one in which you work.
Entertainment First
If you’re hosting a corporate networking event, you can break the ice for everyone by setting up some entertainment and/or activities before the actual business begins. Rewarding attendees with an entertainment act will create a more fun and relaxed environment, which subsequently makes it easier to network.
The Bottom Line…
When it comes to meeting new people at corporate networking events, don’t overthink it. You can run through dozens of scenarios in your head, trying to predict how the person will react, what will they say, etc. However, this will only lead to further anxiety. So the next time you want to break the ice, take a deep breath and personally introduce yourself to the contact.
