Your Network Is Weak—Here’s How to Fix It [Social Intelligence Brief]
The Art of Charm
Maximizing Networking Opportunities Through Preparation and Follow-Up
This chapter highlights the critical role of preparation and follow-up in making the most out of networking opportunities at conventions. It features a success story about inviting a keynote speaker to dinner, demonstrating how proactive engagement can foster valuable connections.
Most people attend networking events hoping something good happens. High-performers don’t hope — they engineer connection. In this episode of Social Intelligence, AJ and John share a 3-part framework for dominating networking events without faking extroversion or relying on luck.
You’ll learn how to build relationships before the event even starts, create social capital in real-time, and make sure your connections actually turn into opportunities after the event. If you’re tired of leaving conferences with nothing but a stack of business cards, this is your blueprint for finally making networking work.
What to Listen For
[00:00:00] The problem with most networking: business cards, but no real relationships
[00:01:00] Strategy 1: Host a private dinner before the event to create instant connections
[00:03:00] How one client turned a simple dinner into the most talked-about moment of the conference
[00:04:40] The science behind why pre-event exposure boosts trust (Mere Exposure Effect)
[00:06:00] Strategy 2: How to become a super-connector — even if you’re introverted
[00:07:48] How live introductions instantly raise your status and social capital
[00:08:53] Strategy 3: Get hyper-specific about who you want to meet
[00:10:00] Why vague networking goals lead to vague results
[00:11:00] The follow-up system: 60-90 minutes that turn conversations into real opportunities
[00:12:07] How the pre-event dinner creates a collaborative "team" approach to networking
[00:14:09] Swing for the fences: how one client landed a keynote speaker at dinner
[00:15:12] The magic of networking happens before and after—not during
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