038 Professionalism In Your Networking
Explore the do's and don'ts of networking professionalism, with real-life examples of how attitude impacts connections.
Topics Discussed This Episode:
00:00 - Introduction to professionalism in networking
04:00 - The importance of setting a positive tone in networking
08:00 - A personal story illustrating negative behaviour at a public event
12:00 - Drawing connections between public interactions and networking etiquette
16:00 - Practical advice for navigating negative interactions
20:00 - How to reset your approach in professional settings
24:00 - Final takeaways on networking positivity
In this episode, we dig into what it really means to be professional in networking environments and how our behaviours can leave lasting impressions. Hear a personal story that highlights the impact of negativity and gain some practical advice for keeping things positive when it matters.
This episode sheds light on why keeping a positive and professional attitude at networking events can be game-changing. Through an engaging personal story, listeners will see how one comedian’s negative performance at a public event mirrors behaviours we often encounter in professional settings. The takeaway? Even minor outbursts or frustrations can shift an entire room’s energy and impact potential connections.
Listeners are encouraged to bring their best selves to networking spaces, leaving personal grievances at the door. You’ll also learn a simple yet impactful approach to handle interactions positively, ensuring that your time spent networking builds and strengthens your professional community. Tune in for an insightful call to leave a lasting, positive impression on every person you meet!
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0:00
G'day, welcome to video, confidence, coach, cast, and today, we're going to discuss professionalism in your networking. That may seem like an obvious question. Zoe, well, not even a question, more of a statement, but I'm going to tell you now, there are so many people who run very large companies who aren't professional,
0:22
and we're going to follow a story that I
0:26
had the interesting time to witness late last year, not necessarily in your networking opportunities, but this story should hopefully enlighten you on how other people may view some of your behaviors. Welcome to the video, confidence coach, cast with me. Your host, Zo the video confidence coach, I help with personal branding, growing it through the power of video for women and non binary folk throughout Australia, I need to work on my elevator pitch of
0:54
it. So today I wanted to delve into a topic that I very much enjoy, that is not necessarily a topic that I host is, for example, I run, you know, maybe some events once or twice a year regarding the networking topic. It's a topic that I hold very dear to my heart, because I network realistically once
1:16
a week on average, and previous to the start of the pandemic, I did this realistically about two to three times a week. I do not recommend that you burn out rather quick, but I've networked a lot in my business career so far, and I intend to do that throughout the rest of my business career, because networking is very important, as the saying goes, it's not what you know, it's who you know, and especially in localized or regional communities, kind of like, Zo, I say kind of like, because we're not very regional, but we still have that mentality. It's always good to network, and it's always the best thing to network with other people, especially like minded people. I always found myself growing up that I was able to go into a networking event with a lot of confidence and a lot of stress off my shoulders, because I know we were here to talk about business, to talk about your business, to talk about my business, and all the things that come into in clutch with that. When attending family events, I didn't exactly know what to talk about, because life, I guess.
2:22
But at a networking event, we can talk about business, and I can definitely do that. Got a lot of practice with it. So I wanted to start off with a story today about a grumpy comedian from Melbourne. And this may seem a bit strange, Zo, but bear with me. So last year, I attended a local comedy festival, the Geelong Comedy Festival. It was its first year running, and I attended an event late on a Saturday night with a partner of mine, and we were enjoying this,
2:55
I think, not a burlesque show, per se, but it was a show of very many, many, many different acts, and the event was already running 40 minutes past due, which was a bit of a worry, but it was also a case of, like, showbiz stuff happens. It's okay. We're here for a laugh. We're here to be entertained. And we were instructed at the start of the event that, hey, just so you know, there has been some major train delays from Melbourne today, we're doing our best to get all the acts that we're going to come and perform tonight. Most of them are from Melbourne, and they're going to come as they trickle down, but they may be an opportunity that we may not have. Everyone that we want on board. Please stick with us as we continue the show on, regardless, the show must go on and all that. And of course, this small crowd that I was in was like, Yeah, sure. Like, you know, we're here to be entertained. We understand that things happen. And yeah, we totally get it. So we're there again being supportive as we can to win during this event.
3:55
So we saw great magical acts, great burlesque acts, some really fun, enjoyable opportunities of just laughter. And, you know, really had a good night, essentially. And there was like, you know, fire twirling without fire, because it was indoors, so it was like baton twirling. And it was really enjoyable to watch and to see
4:16
the last comedian, however,
4:20
was interesting.
4:23
So this gentleman came on, rocked on, like, there was a lot of like, you know, drum rolls and a lot of excitement. And he started talking. And his type of comedy is not exactly my cup of tea. He is very much, he was very much a grumbly, angry comedian, which, for some people, sure works for them. Go ahead, it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. So I'm like, okay, you know, hopefully this 10 minutes moves quickly. That's fine. He proceeded to talk. So he had a 10 minute set. So I think he had a five minute set, but it ended up being 10 minutes and he spent the entire time talking about them.
5:00
Urban trains. And it was like, okay, that's, you know, that's unfortunate for you, mate, but understanding that, like, you know, we're in Geelong,
5:10
like you've come down to us, and is this your material? Like to talk about the, you know, state of the public transport sector that we all use in some capacity. And, okay. And then he quickly turned from talking about the trains for about three to four minutes to the audience, he mentioned a few things about, you know, different suburbs around Geelong, which was, you know, haha, kind of funny. You know, there was some, you know, stereotypes around the type of people in Geelong, sure. Haha, sure. Why not mate? It's fine. But then he started getting angry and aggressive, more angry and aggressive that he already was when he first came into the set that he had, and he started making some pretty offensive comments. And it's like, okay, sure, if that's what you do.
6:01
Fine. Cool. Again. Now, of course, most there was a fair few people in the audience who just started booing and hissing, because it's like, are you supposed to be the villain in this scenario where you're entertaining us, hopefully, supposedly? And then he started getting quite agitated and quite angry at the audience for having a reaction that wasn't just laughter. And then proceeded to point people out and
6:29
comment on their attire, and again, not in a positive way, but a very aggressive way, and started blaming the audience on his poor performance, about how angry he was, how flustered he was, and blaming us for that. And we're all sitting here being like, not mate, you you came in, you came onto the stage like this. This was all you mate. And during the end of that, you know, at the during the end of his set, he then pointed to me at the back, and at the time, I was wearing a mask, because even though I was vaccinated, I was still on and off fairly sick due to long COVID And a couple of other situations, and I was instructed for a very long time to continue wearing mask. I do not wear a mask anymore because I am just honestly sick and tired, and it just impacts what I need to do.
7:18
There's a whole other story about that, but ultimately, I was there with a mask in this room, and me and about three other people, I think, were wearing masks. He pointed at me and commented about the mask. And because this was around Halloween time, and there were some people having Halloween parties, I thought, Oh, the bar at the back, there must be people wearing Halloween masks at the bar at the back of the venue, okay, I will turn around and have a look. And then he proceeded to double down, saying, I thought, you know, I thought you were a man.
7:52
Okay, haha. Is that funny? So again, the whole diatribe that I'm making of this. And of course, by the end of it, the atmosphere in the room became incredibly tense, incredibly agitated people, a couple of people even left at that point, and because me and my partner knew that the show wasn't going to be over yet, we were like, okay, he's gonna stop eventually, right?
8:15
All in all, this was a fairly negative experience, and it was quite overwhelming. And despite the event that this same event the same festival, I mean, I attended a really inspiring, you know,
8:32
story about a trans individual and the comedy around that, and it was so nice to hear their story. And this again, from the same Festival, and then attending this event, like two or three days later and getting this
8:45
so now, of course, this entire story, as you can probably imagine, I left that event quite overwhelmed, but also just quite frustrated. Of why did I invest my time into this? Why did invest my money into this. And, you know, so there were some of the acts that were really good, but then that was an incredibly negative and also, you know, terrifying experience.
9:11
I'm in a room full of strangers, and him being here, him with the one again, man with a microphone, the one being silenced is the one that has the floor interesting. The
9:25
reason that I bring that up and how this story even connects with networking, Zoe and apologize if I brought your mood down a tad, I'm going to tell you now that this type of mentality I have seen so often at networking events, it is ridiculous. I have seen this type of mentality of I'm angry, therefore I'm going to make you angry so much in professional networking spaces, and not just at networking events, be them in person or virtual, but at
9:56
Coffee meetups, at connections where you're supposed to be there to talk.
10:00
About your business, about your clients, about referrals you can possibly give each other,
10:06
and you come in with the negativity of 1000 sons. For what benefit you are there to serve? You are there at this networking event, at this one on one, what have you? You are there to serve.
10:21
And you can't do that if you are just angry,
10:25
if you are just aggressive, if you are blaming everyone around you for a problem that you are facing.
10:33
Now, of course, at networking events, especially with people that you know very well, it is okay to bitch and moan. It is okay to gossip a bit. That is okay. You're there with people that you know,
10:45
but don't do that with new people. Don't do that with people that you haven't met before and don't entirely know their vibe.
10:53
It's like
10:54
you know going on a first date with someone, I would not expect a first date with someone to go through someone's life traumas. Sure, you can talk about their past, about things that they've experienced, sure that's normal human interaction,
11:10
but when you start using that as the opportunity to vent about everything in your life with someone you've only just met, that
11:20
can be a bit worrisome. Now, of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, as there always are. But at networking events, you are there to serve the people around you. You are there to get referrals of other business owners, and you are there to learn and grow yourself and your community and your network. That is what you are there for.
11:43
You are not there to
11:46
be angry and aggressive,
11:49
and I say that to the white men in the room
11:52
when it comes to networking, leaving your personal problems at the door, and doing your best to network with focus and intention, or representing your business positively should be your goal and networking events. And as I said, there is always exceptions to the rule,
12:08
but do your best to grow your community in a positive way. Yes, things may not be positive right here in this moment, but you're attending a networking event, so hopefully you're doing it with intention, and not just there because you have to, or, for example, if, say, for example, if something has happened to you or to your family or to your staff or to your business at all, maybe attending a networking event shouldn't be high on your priority list. Maybe focusing on what you need to focus on may be their priority, and
12:41
that is okay if you need to do that, sure,
12:45
but do not blame other people in the room for your business
12:51
not succeeding the way you want it to.
12:57
And that's okay.
12:59
Not everything is going to be your fault, but it's not the fault of the people in the room who have come there to network with you. Apologies if that sounds a little bit dig at you. I'm not saying that to you, dear listener or D watch. I'm not saying that directly to you. I'm just saying that to if you ever come across people like this in your business journey, in your networking journey, there are going to be people like this. They don't leave their troubles at the doors, and they're just going to be angry and aggressive or bring down the entire mood of a conversation. And
13:33
that's okay. You know, to avoid those people in future, you know to be like, Okay, I'm not going to get in a conversation with you there. For example, there was one person who I am actually good connections with. Now we regularly speak on a regular basis, but when I first met them, they not doing well in their personal life, and they every conversation they had with me would just bring down the mood so drastically and so aggressively to the point where it was like this second or third time that we talked, and they would see me at an event and go straight for me. And of course I would be like, hey, welcoming, glad to chat, happy to chat with you. I'm going to go this way now. But of course they would still want my attention and still want to talk about things. And I had to say, point black to them, mate. This
14:21
is a business event. Let's talk business.
14:24
And like I pointed to a couple of other people in the room saying, hey, they your reputation has got out rather quickly
14:31
about being negative, about being, you know, not being positive. If it's not a good space for you to network right now, do not network. And of course, again, I'm saying this to a full grown man in front of me at a busy networking event, and he got a bit dejected.
14:47
He took it into heart. He walked out into his car, and honestly, I didn't expect him to see it again. And then he came back about 1020, minutes later during the speeches or presentation part of the event, and he apologized.
15:00
Says to me, he says sorry, and endeavo to do better, and he did. His actions actually reflected what he said he would do. And now we are good business associates. I refer to him. He refers to me like we are on good terms. Now, yes, there was a little bit of a hard conversation that we had to have about, not necessarily energy levels or being positive or toxic positivity, it was more just your personal life. Is your personal life. You're here to discuss business and network with other business individuals
15:31
do that.
15:34
So one thing that I have is a nice rule of thumb for a lot of the events that I happen, and if you are listening to the podcast, there was a podcast that we ran that may come out soon or has already come out of called Lessons Learned from places you are not supposed to be. And I discussed about my rule of thumb when it comes to training events, that if it's halfway through and I haven't gotten anything out of it, then this isn't for me, and I'm going to head out, or I'm going to make my excuses and leave, or just, you know, if it's a virtual event, just peace out, and that is okay. Your time is your your time is precious, and that is okay. And that's the same with networking events. That, for example, halfway through the networking event, if you have not reached, and I want to say, a goal, but if you haven't spoken to anyone who could be actively be a lead, or anyone that you know you're going to follow up with halfway through the event. Maybe this event is not for you. Maybe you know if you're not enjoying yourself, if you're finding that you're being like left out of conversations, or if it's getting to the point where, okay, halfway through the event, the people that I've spoken to are, you know, not the right people for me. And there's no one in this room that I could realistically, you know, communicate with. Okay, then I'm just going to leave my say my goodbyes and head out, and then, you know, not to attend that networking group or event or type of event in the future. Now, of course, do not, you know, completely cast off. For example, if you had a bad experience during networking, do not cast off networking entirely, because there is a so many businesses, so many in,
17:11
you know, times in my business where I haven't had a good networking experience.
17:16
So I just gave a break for a week, for a month, however long, however long time I needed, and then I got back on the horse, and I got three clients off the bat. And of course, that's not necessarily going to happen for you, because, of course, I can't replicate my own experiences with you.
17:34
But networking is a very important building your network, as a business owner, is so important to be able to rely on other professionals inside your space, outside your space, to be able to get things done, to be able to, for example, I have so many clients coming to me, being like, hey, Zo, I need this. And I go, cool. Go to my little online Rolodex. Cool. This is the person for you. Here is the contact details. Boom, done.
18:00
This is business baby.
18:03
So when you are as a networking professional or as a professional in as a business owner or building your personal brand, do your best to be flexible and to be calm
18:16
and do your best to put them forward, to put, you know, the person that you're talking to forward, doing your best to listening and listen to them, and, you know, help in any way that you can serve them like you would a client, because the people that you serve at these networking events are going to be the ones to give you leads and referrals and potentially and be your clients in the future. I know that's something that I have definitely run into a lot. There's, I want to say, Good 50% of my clients at the moment are people that I networked with in the past. I helped them, I served them, I provided them some useful next steps, whatever we did at the conversations or networking events that we had, and then, boom,
19:00
you know, two, three years later, five years later, think, seven years later, in one case, they become my clients, and they become my consistent retainer clients as well, because I am what I say, I put my best foot forward, and my personal brand is fairly consistent when it comes to networking events and doing my best to help the People that I am there to network with,
19:22
and having that confidence and professionalism is key when you're trying to be a thought leader in your industry, if you are trying to build your personal brand, if you are trying to be the person who knows what you're talking about in your particular niche, or, you know, value sector, or like, whatever you're trying to do with the work that you're trying to do in your business or your business or your personal brand, show up, be there, help people who are in front of you and network as efficiently as you can
19:51
by helping the people in front of
19:56
you. So thank you so much for listening to today's episode of.
20:00
The video confidence coach cast. I understand that it was probably a bit of a rambly one, but I thank you all the same. Hopefully you will not be like an angry white male comedian, and you can do your best to feel better about the situation
20:15
if you are interested in networking, or if you're interested in attending any of my trainings or receiving any mentorship regarding networking in a small town, feel free to reach out to me at Vcc dot training where you could find out all my updates and information about mentoring, because that's one of the services I provide. Or we can just book a 15 minute chat and have a good chat about networking and next things that we can do to better
20:42
work ourselves in zo
20:45
or in the small regional town that you are located in. I look forward to hearing more from you. Bye.
The above episode description and transcript were generated with ai.
Who is your host?
Zoë Wood, your Video Confidence Coach connects the dots between personal branding and video marketing. Helping women and non-binary folk in small business, find their way in the world of marketing their passion without the energy drain.
Find out more about how to grow your personal brand with the power of video right here on vcc.training
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