How you present yourself at business events becomes part of your personal and business branding effort. Making a good first impression will help your business to grow. It will help to establish your credibility and position you as an expert in your field.
Dress appropriately for the occasion
To feel comfortable at a business event, dress for business. For women, that means a high enough neckline and a low enough hemline to be perceived as professional. For men, that generally means a tie, jacket, dress pants and dress shoes. Even if the event is listed as business casual, business dress is appropriate. If you saw the Casual Friday commercial on the Super Bowl, you probably laughed, said “ouch” and got the message.
Be punctual
Be on time for the event. It is no longer considered professional to be “fashionably late”. It can be perceived as showing a lack of respect when you are late. That does not mean that you need to be the first in line to get in. Put yourself in the shoes of the host and imagine when you want people to show up. Additionally, if you are a bit earlier than the bulk of the group, you can offer to assist with any last minute details, be the unofficial greeter as others enter, and be visible. That’s why you’re there, isn’t it?
Get organized before you arrive at an event
Have everything you need to take in with you close at hand. If someone is looking out the window as you arrive, it probably would not give a professional first impression to be digging around in the trunk of your car or even in the back seat. As you step out of your car, walk around to the other side to get your briefcase or other materials out of the front seat, use good posture, walk with confidence and have a pleasant expression on your face. If you have been on the phone as you arrived, conclude your call before you step out of the car. Someone may be watching.
Step out of the way when you enter the room
Step to one side as soon as possible when you enter the room. If there is a table there for you to make a nametag, you can still step to the end or to the other side of it as you write your nametag. Ideally, you already are wearing one that people can easily read from a handshake distance. If not, you still don’t want to be in the way. Conclude your stay at an entry table as soon as possible. If someone engages you in conversation right away, delay your participation in the conversation until after you are away from the entrance. You might say something like, “Let’s step over here where we won’t hinder someone else coming in.” You may have seen people bent over the table, interrupted in their process of creating a nametag, talking away with someone. That’s not a particularly good look anyway. Don’t be that person.
Hold any beverage in your left hand
If beverages are available during a mingling time, try to hold it in your left hand. That frees up your right hand to shake hands with someone else, and it also offers the other person a warm, dry hand. I’ve shaken a lot of cold, clammy hands and you probably have, too. I’ve also seen people try quickly to shift a beverage to their left hand and accidentally spill some of it. Holding it in your left hand in the first place avoids both of those problems.
Find a place to sit to eat
It is extremely difficult to balance a briefcase or purse, a beverage, food, and handshakes. If at all possible find a place to set down your food and/or beverage. If you can, sit. If there are tall bar tables, use them. If you are sitting, try to stand to shake hands. Refer to a previous article of mine about effective business introductions for more information on this.
Practice good networking skills
This includes recognizing when someone else wants to move on, moving on yourself, monitoring your volume, listening more than you speak, courteously presenting and receiving business cards, making polite conversation, not being too salesy or pushy, and following up after the event. It also includes finding and thanking the host. After all, if you host an event, you want them to attend, knowing that they will experience an event hosted by someone (you) that demonstrates professionalism.
What have you learned about making a good first impression at networking events? Do you have tips we could add to the list? How about something you’ve seen at an event that wasn’t so good? Let us know in the comments area.
Cordially,
Alexis Mason
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Great tips Alexis. I am going to share this with my team. Not only is this good practice when doing a networking event but also when arriving for a business meeting. Thank you!