What do a bra, a medal and a pair of hyacinths (one alive, one dead), have in common?
They’re all props that I’ve brought along to ScreenPop Meets over the last few months. The bra represented the support our network offers each member. The medal represented the winning sales strategies I help my clients put together. And the hyacinths? They showed how I help my clients to nurture their businesses and bring them new life.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve seen it all with these props. A lot of people bring in the products that they sell, the tools they use to do their jobs each day, or little clues that hint at the motivations behind their work. Each one is a window into the person behind a business.
It’s always entertaining to see what props appear around the table as we introduce ourselves at the start of a meeting, but there’s more to it than just a bit of fun.
Walking into your first meeting with a new networking group can be slightly overwhelming. I certainly feel that way at times. The room may be full of unfamiliar faces and it can be hard to keep track of who’s who, never mind trying to help them engage with you and what you do. However, in my experience, people tend to remember the woman brandishing a bra, and it certainly helps people find something to discuss when we take a quick coffee break!
For me, networking is all about connecting with the people behind a business. Nine times out of ten, the businesses we choose to invest our hard-earned money in are the ones run by people we like and trust. I probably know of over fifty accounting businesses, but I chose my accountant because I get on well with her. Similarly, when I want to outsource some creative work, I want to use designers and copywriters who really get me and what I do.
It’s that first connection, that moment when you realise there’s some synchronicity between you and a potential client that’s at the heart of networking, and I’ve often seen someone bring in a fun prop and thought, ‘wow, I really want to work with them!’
Of course, it’s really the connections you make in a meeting that seal the deal and make you and your business one to remember but bringing an interesting visual cue along with you is a great way to place yourself at the forefront of people’s minds when they’re looking for someone to go to for your products or services.
