Networking At Seminars

Most conference networking advice is about what to do once you're there. That's the wrong window. The most valuable time is the week before. All it takes is three short emails: Message a speaker an email that's only two sentences long. "I'm coming to your talk Thursday. Really looking forward to it." Speakers rarely hear from attendees before events, so you become the one name they already know in the room. Message one person you want to meet. Propose a specific time for coffee. Book it early so it actually happens. Reach out to someone in the host city who isn't even attending. You're making the trip anyway. 15 minutes of outreach this week can make next week's conference 10 times more valuable. Follow Dorie Clark for more on building a better network.

If networking makes you anxious, here’s one of my favorite confidence shortcuts: Confidence comes from purpose. When I used to go to big conferences, the breaks were the hardest part. Everyone wandering around, trying to figure out who to talk to… and I’d freeze. So I gave myself a simple purpose: Get in line. Any line. I’d stand in the longest Starbucks line, grab a tiny coffee, then get in another line for a snack, then another line for a treat. Every time I stood in line I talked to the person ahead of me or behind me (whichever one seemed less interested in their phones). And it worked. I ended up meeting dozens of people this way. Lines give you a gentle, built-in way to talk to people without the pressure of walking up cold. I’d say something simple, “Learn anything cool at this conference so far?” This worked super well for quickly getting to do a chemistry check with someone. If it worked, we would sit down together or take a walk. If not, we wished each other well. But the real magic trick is this: After you get your coffee or snack, stand near the spot where people step out of the line. That moment when someone turns back toward the room — drink in hand, scanning for who to talk to — that’s your opening. You can make it super easy and warm: • “Love that coffee. Is it good?” • “What brings you here today?” • “Such a fun event, right?” They’re relieved someone spoke first. You’re relieved you had a purpose. And the conversation flows naturally. It becomes a win-win. Networking doesn’t have to feel scary. It just needs purpose. At your next event: • Find a line • Chat with the people around you • Say hello to the person who steps out next It’s one of the easiest ways to have great conversations without forcing a single moment.

I've closed more deals from photographing a table plan than from any pitch. Teach me how to get great at networking, and a table plan is exactly where I would start. The people who are good at networking aren't necessarily the smoothest talkers in the room. They simply did the work before they arrived and are more interested in you than in sounding interesting themselves. Most of the value isn't created at the event at all. It's created before and after it. 1. Before I commit to anything, I ask for the guest list. Who's going, where do they work, and whether it’s worth my time. If I can't get a list, I think hard about whether to go at all. Your time doesn't come back, so make the room earn it. I'm not there to collect fifty business cards. I'm there for a few conversations that do actually lead somewhere. 2. Then I sort the boring stuff, because the boring stuff is what trips people up. A business card, even now, with a QR code I've checked actually works. One broken link can quietly cost you a deal. A phone with enough battery to swap details all evening. And the right clothes for the room. Knowing the dress code does more than make you comfortable. It makes you look like you belong, and people walk towards those who look like they belong. 3. In the room, I keep one rule: The conversation goes both ways. A short, confident introduction is enough to break the ice. After that, I'm asking questions to learn, not perform.  There's good research showing that asking someone for advice makes you look more capable, not less, especially on a hard problem. People remember being asked. The intern you're chatting to today could be running their own company in five years. 4. Now the table plan: If I can’t get the guest list, I photograph any list of names there and name badges before people arrive. By the end of the night, I've got a record of everyone I didn't reach. I did exactly that at The Times CEO Summit recently. I followed up with the people I'd missed, asked for a coffee, and some of those chats are now future projects. Do it within 48 hours, while the event is still fresh in their mind. 5. The part most people get wrong is treating networking as transactional. The relationships that have mattered most to me were built authentically. I worked out what I could offer first, then led with that, whether it was an introduction, some hard-won experience, or a door I could open. Know what you bring and give it without keeping score. None of this is a rigid set of rules. It's about preparation, and genuinely curious about people. Get those two things right, and networking starts feeling like the best part of the job. What's the best networking advice you've ever been given? I'd like to hear it. For more founder questions and answers, join my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ergDQtiK

I’m usually the guy standing just off-camera, coaching the spokesperson: “Relax your shoulders.” “Don’t overexplain.” “You’ve got 90 seconds—use them wisely.” But yesterday? I was on the other side of the lens—being interviewed by the superb team at Jewish Federations of North America about our advocacy work on Capitol Hill. And let me tell you: Giving media training is easier than doing it yourself. Here’s 10 Tips for Nailing a Media Interview (from someone who usually gives the advice, and just had to eat his own cooking): 1. Don’t look at the camera. Look at the interviewer. The camera’s not your best friend—it’s your static stalker. 😉 2. Be animated, not theatrical. Hand gestures = good. Mime performance = not good. 3. Speak like you’re talking to a smart eighth grader. Clear, short sentences. Then stop. Let the soundbite breathe. 4. Dress for clarity. Solid colors. No stripes, no logos, no hypnotic polka dots. 5. Over-enunciate slightly. TV eats consonants. Add a touch of drama without sounding like you’re auditioning for Shakespeare in the Park. 6. Never repeat a negative. Q: “Isn’t your program a total failure?” ❌ A: “I don’t think we’re a total failure, no.” ✅ A: “I wouldn’t characterize it that way, here’s what we’ve seen work, and why it matters.” 7. If you don’t know, say so. “Let me confirm the data and circle back.” A confident deferral beats a wobbly bluff. 8. Know your message and ‘headlines’ If you don’t know your 3 key points going in, you’re just riffing—and that’s a gamble. 9. No bobblehead mode. Eye contact is good. Wide-eyed blinking and constant nodding? Distracting. 10. Breathe. You’ll think it’s a sprint. It’s actually a slow-motion obstacle course. Stay grounded. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - So here’s to all the advisors, coaches and comms pros who sit behind the camera. Once in a while, it’s worth stepping into the spotlight. Even when it’s awkward (it was)! Even if your shoes are Hokas because you walked 15K steps nursing a broken foot. Even if your inner monologue is screaming. You’ll be fine. You’ve trained for this. Literally. What quick media interviewing tips would you add here? ** If you or your team need some urgent care style speaker and talking point prep, drop me a DM or email anytime. **