 | Referral Institute Networking Tips: Chat Up Lines | How many of these work? | Posted on: 19/03/2014 By: Jacky Sherman |
I'm passionate that networking should be about building relationships rather than trying to sell to the room. This got me thinking about how we start those important relationships with new boyfriends and girlfriends ...
Poor old Howard Wolowitz from The Big Bang Theory! His cheesy chat up lines never worked on Penny, which was a great relief for Leonard!
How do we strike up that very first conversation? Now, this is a subject where I'm very out of practice, but I'm an avid Big Bang Theory fan so I know how Howard did it unsuccessfully. Then I researched some of the latest chat up lines from the web.
After a good laugh, I wondered how they would go down at a networking breakfast so here’s a selection for you.
I'm new in town, could I have the directions to your house please? I'm a frog but if you kiss me I'll turn into a prince! If I could rearrange the alphabet I would put U and I together! If I told you that you had a nice body, would you hold it against me? I hope you know CPR? Because you take my breath away! I bet you £10 you're gonna turn me down! Do you come here often? (Still going strong) What time do you finish? (yup, this one too!)
Here are a few with more cheese than a four cheese pizza:
Here I am. What are your other two wishes? Did it hurt? When you fell out of heaven? I lost my teddy bear. Will you sleep with me? Do you mind if I stare at you up close instead of from across the room? I have had a really bad day and it always makes me feel better to see a pretty girl smile. So, would you smile for me? I was just wondering if you had space in your handbag for my Mercedes keys? I'm not staring at your boobs. I'm staring at your heart!
And sometimes, they're just weird:
I'm like chocolate pudding, I look like crap but I'm as sweet as can be! Hi, the voices in my head told me to come over and talk to you! I went to school with your mum, fancy a drink? (apparently overheard by bar staff) Be unique and different, say yes! My love for you is like diarrhoea, I just can't hold it in!
The only one I might have responded to would have been "my buddies bet me that I wouldn't be able to start a conversation with the most beautiful girl in the bar. Wanna buy some drinks with their money?"
Now, of course we didn't really need these when we were dating and we certainly wouldn't use them when networking; at least I hope not! But people do get into a tangle about what to say when they are in unfamiliar territory and surrounded by strangers. It's the biggest fear and it stops a lot of people networking.
So here’s some simple tips if that applies to you.
Be yourself. What all those pick up lines have in common is insincerity. So how about a simple opener like "hi I'm Jacky, nice to meet you!" Be interested in the other person. It's so much easier to ask people questions than launch straight into a diatribe about yourself. It's easier to respond too! Simple questions like "what brings you here?", "are you a member of this group?", "who did you come with today?" and "what do you do?" are all good icebreakers. Make them feel comfortable. Take your lead from the other person. Some people are very direct and move swiftly onto business so stick to that topic. Others prefer to find out about you personally and who you know to find the common ground. Some people are fast paced and move the conversation along rapidly whilst others are more measured and will give longer replies and reveal less personal information. Beware turning your questions into an interrogation, this does take a bit of practice. I wrote a whole blog on it last year, so do take a look if you want more on this. Know when to move on. Don't hog the conversation or their company. They did come to meet more people than you! So move on by either asking them who they can introduce you to, or, if you know others in the room, ask who you can introduce them too. If - and only if - you want to know more about them, suggest a meeting. It's always best to ask for their business card rather than offer yours and then agree that you will call them. Remember: it's all about you being interested in them so do remember to make that call. Be Kind. Even if you are a seasoned networker, remember that others find it hard to be in a room full of strangers, so do look after the newcomers at your networking events and make them feel welcome.
Like so much in referral marketing, it's simple, but not always easy, to make a difference. If you know someone who is nervous about starting networking or finds it hard to get the results they want, why not introduce me or get them to call me on 07970 638857 as I know I can help!
Until next time ...
JACKY SHERMAN
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