1 Know your purpose

Before you attend any networking event, whether it is a conference, a workshop, a social mixer, or a one-on-one meeting, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you want to talk to. This will help you focus your efforts and avoid wasting time on irrelevant or superficial conversations. Having a purpose will also make you more confident and prepared when you approach someone or introduce yourself. You can start by stating your name, your role, and your reason for being there, and then ask a relevant question or share a common interest.

2 Listen and learn

One of the best ways to show friendliness and professionalism when networking is to listen attentively and actively to what the other person is saying. This means not only hearing their words, but also understanding their tone, body language, and emotions. Listening and learning will help you build rapport, trust, and respect with the other person, as well as identify their needs, goals, challenges, and opportunities. You can demonstrate your listening skills by asking open-ended questions, paraphrasing what they said, giving feedback, and expressing appreciation.

3 Be authentic and respectful

Another key aspect of mixing friendliness and professionalism when networking is to be authentic and respectful. This means being honest, genuine, and sincere in your communication, and avoiding exaggeration, flattery, or manipulation. It also means being respectful of the other person's time, space, privacy, and opinions, and avoiding topics that might be controversial, sensitive, or offensive. You can show your authenticity and respect by using a polite and friendly tone, smiling and making eye contact, using their name, and thanking them for their time.

4 Follow up and follow through

The last step of mixing friendliness and professionalism when networking is to follow up and follow through. This means keeping in touch with the people you met, sending a thank-you note, a relevant article, or a referral, and following up on any promises or commitments you made. This will help you reinforce the connection, show your interest and value, and create opportunities for further collaboration or support. You can follow up and follow through by using a timely and personalized email, phone call, or social media message, and by setting a clear and realistic next step.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?