Once you know who you want to connect with, where to find them and what you’re going to offer, you need to know what you’re going to say. To make power networking as effective as possible, you need to draft actual hypothetical conversations and practice them. This way, you’re going to go into your interactions fully prepared.

Write a Script

Imagine how a conversation might go with a prospect and actually write it out like a movie script. Of course, the real conversation isn’t going to follow your script, but this helps you prepare and brainstorm things you might need to say. You’ll get ideas for how to keep the conversation going, what questions to ask, and what to tell the prospect about yourself.

Questions, Questions

Along with your script, prepare questions to ask the people you meet. These questions serve two purposes. First, they give you a way to learn about the people you meet. Second, they keep the conversation going. People love to talk about themselves and your questions give the people you meet a wonderful opportunity to do so. They also shift the focus off of you.

Opening and Closing

Draft an opening and closing. The opening is where you approach prospects and introduce yourself with a short spiel about who you are and what you do. Try to also work in something positive about the other person, but only if you can make it natural.

The closing is equally important. Write a closing that ends the conversation on a high note. It should include you exchanging contact information (giving the prospect your card) and arranging to keep in touch or communicate at a specified later date, depending on the situation. If it’s possible to arrange a follow up at the end of your conversation, do it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Along with your script, prepare answers to common questions. Prepare stock responses that answer your prospects’ questions and also present key information about you and how you can help them. If you’re prepared, you won’t be taken off guard and all of your responses will be valuable in building a strong connection.

Practicing Your Conversation

After you’ve prepared your conversation and answers, practice with someone else. Role-play and imagine that they’re a new person. Get their feedback on how the interaction went. Ask them if they understood well what you have to offer. Do they think you seem needy or inauthentic? Is there anything you could say that would be more effective? Ask them for the overall impression they get from meeting you.

Saying the Right Things to the Right People

You have a basic script and some prepared questions for anyone you meet. But you should also research each networking function and the people who are going to be there. You should know about the people to whom you’re talking because it shows you’re interested and you did your homework. It also gives you an idea of what questions to prepare.

Perfecting Your Routine

Even after considerable preparation and practice, it may be awkward at first to make connections. This is only natural. As you go out and meet more people, you’ll get into a flow and it will become second nature.