How To Genuinely Connect With Important People

8 July, 2015

Meeting Important People

“I’m so nervous. {Fanning face, breathing heavily}.

I’ve spotted someone I really admire and I’m just desperate to introduce myself.

But I’ll die if I do.”

Torn between the desire to connect with someone who’ll be a great asset to your business and the fear of being embarrassed, you get stuck. And the opportunity passes.

Again.

Sound familiar?

The reason it’s so hard to connect with the people we want to influence is because we don’t know how to talk about ourselves. We want to be self-confident but not shameless, self-assured not sleazy. We just don’t know how.

Here are 8 tips:

  1. Don’t be needy, shy or desperate
  2. Focus on what you can give, not what you can get
  3. See yourself as an equal
  4. Be sincere
  5. Don’t be pushy
  6. Don’t expect anything in return
  7. Walk up and say “Hi. My name is _____. We haven’t met yet…”
  8. Stop caring about what other people think

The right people can connect you with resources and opportunities that will fast-track your career. If you can genuinely be of service to them, then not speaking about yourself is denying them your unique gifts.

Building a valuable circle of influence is a process that’s meant to unfold over time. And if you’re genuine, consistent and supportive, it will.

Image credit Morgan Sessions

Robyn Young - Personal Leadership Branding for Executives

About the Author

Robyn Young

As a personal leadership branding strategist, Robyn Young helps individuals identify and articulate their unique strengths, values and goals, empowering them to build an authentic personal brand that resonates with their stakeholders.

Robyn has a keen eye for aligning personal attributes with professional aspirations, helping her clients project a powerful and compelling image in their chosen field.