4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events: Step 2

What the partners of Leicestershire based 
Morgan GleaveArt & Design 
have learnt during 12 years of running 
a small business. 

Step 2:  Prepare your weapons!

Unless you already have, you may like to look at 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 1

Your weapons are information and planning. Confidence will grow from knowing that whatever happens, you can deal with it.

You need to spend time looking at every aspect of getting to the event in good time and with everything you may need.

(Yes, Be Prepared', just like a Scout... Do stop singing.  We cannot be doing with Ging Gang Goolieing just now.  No, it is not rude.  It is just a nonsense song.  Now, stop laughing and pull yourself together so that we can get on.)

A)  Plan Travel

• Plan your route

• Check travel details

• Check event time, date, location

• Book bus/train tickets 

• Book taxis

•  Plan leaving time allowing for possible delays.

• Check your car.  Do the usual checks such as tyre tread, oil and so on.  

Ensure that it looks smart and clean.  

Avoid buying petrol en route to an important event.

• Work out where to park...

... especially if you plan to arrive by horse.

B)  Pack your bag in good time

First, declutter your bag.  If you do not need it, leave it at home or in your car boot.

(No, I did not mean that people should put cats in the boots of their cars.  I assumed that the people reading this would have the common sense to realise that...  Well, most people are NOT like you, are they?)

Then ensure that you have everything you need.

Suggested Checklist:

• Event details.

• Keys

• Mobile

• Cash.  Including change for parking 

• Bank cards

• Membership card for AA, RAC or similar.  If you are not a member or a breakdown service and you are given to anxiety, do consider it.  

• Notebook, pen

• Fully charged mobile(s)

• Personal items eg tissues, glasses 

• Business cards.  Keep business cards pristine in a holder, but ensure that you have a few that are easily accessible in your bag or pocket.  You want to be able to produce one quickly and without fuss.

(Well, yes, a good trick if you can pull it off.  It would certainly get you and your business noticed -probably not  a good idea for unconfident people...)


C)  Plan what you are going to say

• Think of some questions to ask other business owners.  Try to make them open questions i.e. questions that cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no' in order to foster conversation.

• Think of a succinct answer when you are asked to explain what your business is.  Do not try to sell, just explain.  Use positive language.

(No, recording it and just playing it back would not give a good impression!)

• Practice introducing yourself.  People want to network at networking events so it is easier to go up to someone and say, 'Hello, I'm Esmeralda Twoshoes' than it is at other social events.  Practice doing it confidently.  Even if you do not feel confident, pretend.  The more you force yourself to do the things a confident person would do, the more confident you will feel.

Finally, just for fun!

“Organising is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up”

A. A. Milne

Click Here for Step 3 which deals with your final preparations.


Related Links:

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 1

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events :  Step 3

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 4

You may also find the following links useful:

• 10 Things Not To Do at a Networking Event 

• 2 Easy Techniques to Calm and Relax You at (Almost) Anywhere and at Anytime.

Do you have any comments?

How about sharing this post?  

Perhaps you would like to subscribe to Morgan Gleave Art & Design's Blog so that you can keep up to date with the bits and bobs we put up.

Morgan Gleave Art & Design is not responsible for the content of external sites

4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events: Step 1

What the partners of Leicestershire based 
Morgan Gleave Art & Design 
have learnt during 12 years of running a small business. 

Important 

This article is for people who are generally sociable but need a little help with new situations.  

This is NOT intended for those with deeper seated problems with socialising.  

For more information, the NHS has an excellent article on Social Anxiety Disorder you may wish to look at.

It is natural to be nervous when doing anything new.  New things are a challenge and challenges require courage.   It is easier to be courageous if you have a shield in place.

(Do get down.  Sitting on the photocopier pretending to be a knight is not big and it's not clever.)

Step 1:  Construct Your Shield

(I mean hypothetically, so you can put that drawing board back where it came from... Honestly!)

The shield in this instance is your outward appearance.  

It requires planning and effort but it is not difficult as long as you start well in advance of the event so that there are no last minute panics.  

There is nothing like a last minute panic to send you self-confidence into a downward spiral. 

Most of this is common sense but you may not have thought of some things.  In any event, it is always good to have a reminder.  Perhaps you could print this off and use as a check list.

Everything Applies to Everyone

That means EVERYTHING.  By all means reject the suggestion of, for example, grooming your eyebrows or men using makeup to even out skin tone, but pleeeeease think about it seriously first.

In the highly competitive world of business, do not let old-fashioned prejudices stop you giving yourself every advantage you can.

(Oh, stop fussing!  Being well groomed isn't silly, it's just showing respect for yourself.   Look at David Beckham, he'd not silly, is he?...   Please stop kicking your legs like that, it's dangerous in an office...  I don't care that you're a world famous footballer...  Yes I would!  Anyway, I expect David Beckham would have more sense that to behave like that!) 

A)  Ensure that you are well groomed. 

• Nails:  Clean, neat

• Hair:  Clean, trimmed.  Every time you visit the barbers or hairdressers, make another appointment for a few weeks time so that you never fail to 'get round to it'.

• Makeup:  Discreet and flattering.   

It is worth visiting large department stores such as John Lewis and Debenhams, visiting some of the quality make-up brands such as Liz Earle or Clarins and asking for advice. 

Some even give free makeovers.  Ring the store first to see what is available and remember to check that it is really free and that purchasing products is not a condition.  

For men who may not wish to visit stores, there is a lot online about imperceptible makeup for men.  You do not have to buy brands specifically aimed at men, any brand will do.  

  

• Facial hair:  Tidy eyebrows, Shave, trim beards and moustaches. 

 (Yes, if appropriate, you can ‘shove a cutter thing up your nose’ as you so tastefully put it.  That is quite enough of that! We would all prefer it if you stopped pretending to remove nasal hair with that pen.  Yuck!) 

Even this little poppet has to take care to groom his facial hair.

• Body:  Keep Clean.  Sounds obvious, but you only need to be in an air conditioned supermarket on a hot day to discover how many people forget the basic rules of body hygiene:  

• Wash/shower properly every day 

• Use deodorant and antiperspirant.  

Keep underarm hair very short or shaved to enable these to work

• Clean teeth at least twice a day, especially before a business or social event.

B)  Choose and Prepare Clothing

Generally speaking, clothes need to be smart, understated and fit properly.   

• No to:  'stripper shoes', short skirts, low cut tops, jeans, tee shirts, trainers, PVC wet look cat suits, woolly jumpers, latex Bermuda shorts, jogging bottoms...got the idea? 

• Yes to:  Suits and ties.  Smart trousers, skirts, shirts, blouses and jackets.   

Remember this is a guide only.  

It could be that your business, your culture or your personality dictate a certain style of dress, and the above suggestions are inappropriate. 

Nevertheless, think about your clothes and avoid rejecting all of the above suggestions just for the sake of it.  

Try to  find some middle ground.

C)  The Trimmings

• Shoes:  Clean, tidy, comfortable 

• Accessories:  Discrete jewellery, 'classy and not brassy'

• Bag:  Invest in a quality briefcase or business like bag or man bag, large enough to hold everything you require.  (No, a Poundland carrier bag is not appropriate even if it did cost 5p.  No.  Not even a Waitrose one.)

Irrelevant image to brighten things up

D)  Take time to...

• Make repairs

• launder, iron

• Dry clean suits, jackets and coats.  This is really important.  You may not notice an odour, but others will – ooooh, stinky poo!  

Coat looks good but it probably does not smell of roses..s

(Alright!  Alright! Get off the floor!  There's no need to overdo it.  Bloomin' drama queen...)

Finally, Just for Fun!

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” 

Mark Twain

Click Here for Step 2 which deals with planning and organising

Related Links:

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 2

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events :  Step 3

• 4 Step Plan to Boost Your Confidence at Business Networking Events:  Step 4

• 10 Things Not To Do at a Networking Event 

• 2 Easy Techniques to Calm and Relax You at (Almost) Anywhere and at Anytime.

Do you have any comments?

How about sharing this post?  

Perhaps you would like to subscribe to Morgan Gleave Art & Design's Blog so that you can keep up to date with the bits and bobs we put up.

Morgan Gleave Art & Design is not responsible for the content of external sites