What To Say When Networking

How I break the ice and build life changing connections

It’s been refreshing to see how many of you resonated with last week’s newsletter about getting good at networking.

It’s something I also used to dread but has become a game changer for me, since I started really embracing it and even loving it.

This question I received from a reader, really stood out to me:

"Hi Kennie, thanks for this. I enjoyed reading it. I was wondering if you could give more conversation starter tips/examples." - Farati

As someone who had the same question at the start of my corporate career journey - you’re in the right place. I’ve got you!

I used to view starting a conversation when networking as daunting and awkward.

But once I started embracing it, I’ve come to realise that it really boils down to two things;

1. being yourself - don’t try to fake anything or pretend to be what you’re not

2. being friendly and approachable

Think of how you would approach someone you’re interested in dating or becoming friends with? That’s how I like to approach starting conversations when networking.

Just like in dating, you’re not going to hit it off with everyone you try to have a conversation with. Should that stop you from trying though? Of course not

Just like in dating, you have to keep trying until you find someone or people you have a great connection with

Once that happens, it’s likely you’ll want to stay in touch and keep the relationships going - same as networking.

Conversations Starting Tips When Networking In-Person:

1. Questions are my go-to - shows genuine interest in the other person and provides a natural way to keep the conversation flowing.

“Hey! How did you find out about this event? I only just recently found out about it on instagram”

"Wow, that was a really inspiring talk! Did you know about [speaker] before this?

2. Compliments - makes people feel valued and appreciated, helping to create a positive and welcoming atmosphere for further dialogue.

[Make sure you mean it and it’s genuine. People can usually feel it when it’s not]

“I lovee this top! Where did you get it from?”

"Your questions during the Q&A were really insightful. How did you become so knowledgeable about this topic?"

3. Shared Experiences - creates an immediate connection and provides common ground to build rapport and easy conversation.

"I noticed we both attended the same breakout session earlier. What did you think of it?"

Conversations Starting Tips When Networking on LinkedIn.

1. Comment on their posts - mention the part that really resonated with you.

"Spot on! I especially resonated with your point about setting boundaries to avoid burnout. Great insights!"

2. Direct Messages - offers a private way to initiate meaningful conversations and build a more personal connection

- "Hi [Name], I came across your profile and was impressed by your work in [specific area/industry]. I’d love to connect and learn more about your journey."

For me, there are no sneaky tricks to building genuine connections. The best connections are built when you’re being genuine, friendly, curious, and generous - and as always don’t forget to follow up!

Feel free to adapt these conversation starters and make them your own - they are just a guide to give you an idea of how to go about this.

Networking might feel daunting at first, but having these simple conversation starters at the back of my mind means that I always know how to approach people and start a conversation!

Stay genuine, stay curious, and generous and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can build meaningful relationships.

Speak in the next one!

Kennie Bukky x

Corporate Girl, Career Coach, Content Creator & Founder @ThePivotPlace

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