1) Look people in the eye - A politician from our city taught me what not to do. As he shook my hand he would look over my shoulder to see who he would rather talk to and I obviously wasn't the only one as he is not an elected official today. Be present with the people you meet.
2) Stand up when being introduced - Don't fall into the sexist trap that says women can remain seated while being introduced. If you want to be treated like an equal, rise to your feet and shake hands with everyone all around.
3) Be an active listener - Make an effort to not only hear the words but listen for the true meaning behind them. Nod, maintain eye contact and smile to encourage the speaker. Reduce the pressure to add a comment of your own by prompting them to continue - simply say, "tell me more".
4) Keep moving - As interesting as one person may be you want to be sure to network by meeting others. To exit one conversation without offense create a "win-win" by introducing that person to another. Include something personal in the introduction to show you were listening.
5) Trust your intuition- Walk into a room, make eye contact with someone, and trust that is a person you should meet. Allowing your intuition to guide you removes a lot of the anxiety - you don't have to try meet and impress a lot of people. Those you are meant to connect with will feel like a friend already so relax and just talk to them.
6) Follow-up - After meeting someone you can remain "top of the mind" by phoning, inviting them for lunch or sending a thank-you note. Some make up kits in advance and put them in the mail that night when they are still fresh in peoples' minds. Others use technology such as Facebook to keep their name in front of those they have met. The key is keeping the connection alive.
After a highly successful career in business, including 26 years with PotashCorp where she was Senior Vice-President, Betty-Ann retired in 2007, the same year that she was named to Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Hall of Fame?. She now works as a speaker, author and mentor and is committed to using her personal and professional experiences to inspire and empower other women. A firm believer in the value women bring to organizations, Betty-Ann explores changing perceptions of male and female roles including candid observations about what she calls "Good Gender Physics" on her blog at http://www.stillettochick.com/. She helps both men and women understand the primary energy of their gender but also accept and appreciate the strengths of their opposite.
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