We go networking to build relationships. Once we have done that we can start to think about meeting people on a business footing and, hopefully do business in the normal way. It is a cliché but so true, ‘people buy people before buying goods and services. The three core steps in the building of any relationship, whether it is a social or business relationship is

1. Knowing
2. Liking
3. Trusting

When we attend events we get to meet new contacts or reinforce existing relationships. Let’s focus on liking. People like us when we are polite, courteous and respectful. Good manners is good business and bad manners is often no business. Life is too short to be dealing with unsavoury and objectionable characters. Unfortunately life doesn’t always work out as we’d like and sometimes we do come across these unpleasant people. When we go to business events look out for these people and try to avoid them as much as possible. From our in-depth vast research we know peoples’ key fear when networking is the fear of rejection. F.E.A.R. It can be an acronym standing for  ‘false expectations appearing real’. 99% of the time, this is true but when we do meet the odd hooligan their norm is to reject us in a subtle but sometimes obvious manner. Just accept there is a tiny percentage of these people around and when they do behave inappropriately excuse yourself politiely and move mon to ‘nice’ people in the room. Let me prepare you now for some of the behaviours of these unpleasant types.

The networking hooligan

This is the rude, disrespectful ignorant networker. He generally attends events and generally upsets lots of people. What does he do to create this unhappy situation? Women generally are much nicer and tend to behave in a more courteous friendly way. Here are 10 disgusting behaviours:

1. He doesn’t understand the rules of space, stands too close and for those with claustrophobia is a living hell. You take a step back and he follows you.
2. He comes over to you whilst you’re chatting with John. He knows John but not you. “Hi John, good to see you” and totally ignores you.
3. I’m a group of three or four he turns his back on you during a conversation.
4. When he had enough of you he simply walks off without a ‘by your leave’.
5. He constantly hijacks the conversation. “Oh I’ve been there. I know someone better than him. I can beat that, it only took me … etc etc.
6. He is downright rude, sneers at something said or is uncomplimentary about other people and their business.
7. He breaks into closed groups where it’s obvious they’re having a private and confidential conversation. Another note read the various rooms’ body language; approach only the open formatted groups unless you know someone in there.
8. He drinks too much too soon and behaves like the original lager lout.
9. He tells inappropriate jokes or anecdotes
10. And the worst behaviour of the hooligan is left until last. He’s the one who look over your shoulder or around the room as he’s talking to you. His body language is saying “I’m bored with you Will, I want out of here”. Fine, you don’t want to build a relationship with this hooligan do you? Move on. Simply say “Well, it’s good to meet you chief hooligan, will you excuse me I need to see my friend May over there”. He’ll think “thank goodness for that!”

CALL TO ACTION

Ensure no-one can ever accuse you of behaving like a hooligan. Networking is building relationships. How can anyone do that with the sort of behaviours listed?

Here’s a good example of the hooligan! Have you met one recently?