Listen

Waiting for the other person to finish talking, is not listening.  I don’t know where I first heard that, but I like it.

Get into the habit of asking others about what interests them.  And then listen to the answers.  Notice what is lighting them up, and file it away for the future, especially if it’s something you have in common.  Then remember to ask the next time you meet: how did their daughter’s recital go, or if their project problem got solved to their satisfaction. 

Networking is about connecting with people, and connecting means finding a point of connection.