Pocket Full of Stories for Networking

/in /by

Having a pocket full of stories can boost our confidence and increase our fun at networking events. Most of us, when walking into a crowded room, have a bit of trepidation. We want to be there to meet interesting people, yet we may not be sure who to approach or what to say. This is where a pocket full of stories is handy.  Spending just a bit of time in advance formulating a few stories we feel comfortable sharing can put us at ease.

We can tell stories from our own experience or from something we’ve recently heard or read. Here are three steps for creating a pocket full of stories:

  1. Brainstorm and pick 2-3 topics of relevance to people at the networking event. 
  2. Develop a story using information you already know about each topic. 
  3. Practice telling the stories out loud a few times until you feel confident.

The stories we develop typically can be used again at different times with different people, giving us a pocket full of stories for networking.

Let’s walk through an example to bring this idea to life.

I recently went to the Sustainable Change Alliance (SCA) event on Investing in Climate Solutions. The people attending were other SCA members and guest who were all interested in investing as well as some aspect of climate solutions.

Given attendees’ interests, topics of relevance that are also of interest to me include the central role of water in the climate crisis and follow up rounds of funding for early-stage companies. Here are two possible stories I could share at this event. 

Water and Climate

I find it inspiring just how many entrepreneurs are approaching the global water crisis from so many angles. I recently met the founder of Divirod, a start up in Colorado that provides real-time water data on a global scale using sensor technology. Interestingly, the founder came from the space industry and their solution leverages technology from that industry. That makes it reasonable to capture data from across the globe and use that massive data lake to understand and manage water issues locally. It was fun for me to learn about another company being part of the grand solution. What companies in this space have impressed you lately? 

Climate Solution Providers Raising Capital

As a communication coach, I am often brought in to help executive teams polish their pitches for fundraising. I see it can be challenging to raise follow-on rounds, particularly for more capital-intensive climate solutions. Lately I have been noticing a significant effort on the part of early investors to help companies raise additional capital. What have you seen as success factors for climate companies raising subsequent rounds of capital?

You may notice that these story examples also include questions. These questions pull others into our stories and foster interactive engagement, which is the reason we network.

The more stories we develop over time, the fuller our pockets become and the easier it is to have something interesting to say at events, increasing our enjoyment of networking.

 

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

/in /by

I have been noticing acts of kindness happening all around me lately. It is a good reminder that we communicate through our actions. 

I have seen small acts of kindness, like picking up other people‘s trash and giving pedestrians plenty of room and time to cross the street. I have seen grand acts of kindness with so many people helping victims of the fires in Los Angeles.

In the professional world, I have observed women mentoring other women. I have viewed those in power, conferring their social status to those with less power in the room. I have noted leaders taking the time to listen carefully to junior colleagues to better understand their needs.

All of these above actions spoke loudly to those who witnessed them. Without words, the value and importance of other people was communicated. 

When we are conscious and intentional about our actions, we can ensure that they are in line with our values. We can ensure that our actions deliver the message we intend to convey.

To be more intentional, we can:

  • Identify areas of concern and importance 
  • Brainstorm ways to demonstrate that concern
  • Look for opportunities to do so in our everyday activities

Here is an example:

Concern: Women having opportunity for leadership success in business

Ways to Demonstrate: Listen to women’s ideas, make professional connections, give free advice

Opportunities: Listening attentively to nieces or other young woman we meet, giving women kudos for having creative and ambitious ideas, formally mentoring women at work or within our industry

Whether we choose little acts of kindness or big gestures, everything we do communicates what we think is important as our actions speak louder than our words.