Connection · 3 minute read
Leave with more than a business card.
Choose a question, listen with intention and make your follow-up specific.
Give yourself a purpose.
Before a professional gathering, write down one thing you would like to understand better and one experience you could share. This gives you a starting point without turning every conversation into a pitch.
Ask questions that invite a story.
A thoughtful question can move a conversation beyond job titles. Choose questions that give someone room to answer in their own way.
- What are you learning in your work right now?
- What has changed how you think about your career?
- What kind of professional conversation would you like to have more often?
Be present, then make a note.
Listen before planning your next answer. When the conversation ends, note a topic you discussed and any follow-up you offered. Ask before adding someone to a contact list or sharing their information.
Follow up with context.
A useful follow-up explains where you met, refers to a specific part of your conversation and makes any next step clear. Keep it short. An exchange of business cards is an introduction, not permission for unrelated marketing.