I hope like me you are beginning to meet people where you’re in the same space. I am having coffees and lunches now and it’s wonderful. Yes, more time travelling and money has to be spent. But for me it’s worth it. What’s your view?
“Are you a nosey parker?”
This briefing goes around the world to my global audience so it’s possible some will never have heard of this phrase. When you are called a ‘nosey parker’ it means someone is saying you are a curious, sometimes inquisitive person.
I had to know the origin of this; this is it. Matthew Parker, who was Archbishop of Canterbury (1559-75), had rather a reputation for prying into the affairs of others. He therefore acquired the nickname ‘Nosey Parker’.
Are you a ‘nosey parker’? I hope so because unless you are curious, you’re not going to be an effective networker.
When you don’t ask enough questions people might think
- You only want to talk about yourself.
- You don’t really care to hear what others have to say
- You are overconfident thinking you won’t learn anything
Take note of one of the timeless quotes from Dale Carnegie
The most interesting people we meet are those most interested in us.
When you leave a 1-2-1 or group meeting hoping the other person(s) thinks well of you, ask intelligent and insightful questions. If you think it might be a little intrusive ask permission to ask before you ask! Or warn them you are about to ask them a sensitive question. Remember if they don’t want to answer nothing is lost.
12 Key questions to ask and why you ask them.
Business Questions
We attend events to create business opportunities but as we all know ‘people buy people first’. After ice-breakers come business questions…
4. What is your role and position in the company?
Knowing that we can ask more relevant questions and ascertain their seniority.
5. What made you get into that or what made you become a xxx?
Virtually everyone loves talking about themselves particularly people who own their own business.
6. Where do you see your business/ career going in the next year or so?
If, like me, you are in the advice-giving business we want to know what their challenges are. Knowing that we may be able to offer our services if there is a fit.
In the next Blog I move onto ‘Small Talk‘.
Have a successful few week ahead.
Will Kintish