In this day of electronic connectivity – cell phones (in all their variations), e-mail, the Web (“Internet”) – it’s easy to lose sight of a powerful yet dying phenomenon: the face-to-face meeting. Sure, staying in touch electronically is fine once the relationship has begun, but how do you meet that prospect initially?
Time was, networking functions were very common. Two previous employers were members of the local chamber of commerce. I and other employees often took advantage of the membership by showing up at the After 5 get-togethers. They were mostly social events for me, as I didn’t feel comfortable networking at the time. I always envied one former boss who would could work the room like a pro. He was well known, due to his position with that company, but still: why didn’t I feel as comfortable?