There is nothing easy about talking to someone you admire. Regardless of the field or profession this person is someone you respect and you admire. Either it be their work ethic or their accomplishments sometimes that can be intimidating.
I still get nervous when I am in a room of excellence and sometimes I feel like I do not belong. The reality is that is a lie! You do belong! Just like anyone else that has worked to get in the room, does not matter if they are presenting on the stage or sitting in the audience or even working the event. You belong in the room. It has taken me many years to come to that understanding and even more time to get comfortable with not just being in the room but speaking with confidence in these rooms. So I wanted to share a few tips on how to conquer the room when going into industry events or networking events.
• Know Your Value
• Understand That These Are Human Beings
• Be Strategic
• Be Informed
• Enjoy The Moment
Know Your Value
This is definitely the most important tip! If you are trying to achieve more in life you first must understand that you are valuable. Not only are you valuable in the office but you are valuable in every aspect of life. Your opinion, expertise and skill set is important. Feel confident in where you are in your career at the moment but also realize you have more to offer than what you know right now. If you are working to better yourself personally and professionally then you should always be confident in what you have to offer.
If you are sitting here thinking well “I’m just starting I have no value yet.” You are absolutely WRONG! In every aspect of your life you have gained experience that you can use to your advantage, you need to analyze the skills, lessons and expertise you have gained from previous work and life experiences. When you know your strengths and educate yourself on your field your confidence will increase.
Understand That We Are All Human
I know its cliché and also a “duh” statement. Who doesn’t know that we are all human beings? Well sometimes people forget, myself included and we give people, human beings, more power than they deserve. No one is more important than you! I am not saying this in a conceited way so please don’t take this statement to your head. I am saying this so you know that your worth is not measured by someone else’s success! So stop underestimating yourself. Stop comparing yourself to others. Stop feeling less than and realize you are just as capable of being in a position of power and leadership as anyone else in the room.
(Here's a video from Will Smith that I love where he talks about a life lesson Nelson Mandela taught him)
https://www.facebook.com/92304305160/videos/10159910712075161/
Be Informed
Understand that knowledge is power. Even before you step those manicured toes and stylish heels into any room you should know who will be in that room and who you want to connect with. Most events release a flyer with the topic of the event, the host, the panelist, etc. You should not only know every person on that flyer but you should know that person boss, who they work with, the company and its history. You should even research the venue and the connection they have with the organization throwing the event. You want to be overly informed! To succeed and grow you must know your industry and the business so you have to know the playmakers as well, even down to the playmakers team! Sometimes people get so caught up in the heavy hitters they forget about the people that helped this person gain success. It may seem like a lot of information but the more consistent you become with studying your industry and other industries the easier it will be for you to move within because you will be so knowledgeable!
Be Strategic
This is a tip I have really been trying to master in my own life! Being strategic is what allowed so many influential and successful people to be where they are today. You must have a game plan! I used to go to networking events (events in general) with the mindset that I will be happy if I connect with just one person. NO! You should already know why you are there and who you want to network with. This strategy goes hand in hand with being informed. When you are informed and know what your purpose is at the event you will be even more successful and comfortable.
Enjoy The Moment
The easiest way to conquer any room is to completely be engrossed in the moment. Having fun and living in the moment can be challenging for many people that are so focused on gaining opportunities. Take the weight off your shoulders about how important it is for you to gain contacts. The easiest way to gain contacts is to build connections and that happens when your guard is down, you are present and you are comfortable being yourself in the moment.
BONUS TIP
It seems that I can never give advice without wanting to give more advice. So I decided to give a bonus tip! I think this is more important than all the other tips and that is to take a chance! A lot of times we let fear and opinions get in the way of us moving forward. So I challenge all of you to break free and take a chance to accomplish your dreams!