Trust plays an important role in networking, especially if it's face-to-face. This is what you will discover in this article.
Advantages of face-to-face communication
The main advantages of face-to-face communication compared to online communication is the physical presence of the person or people you hope to communicate with.
When you are physically present and interact and engage with others, you will experience an experience that online communication does not provide.
Body language, tone of voice, facial expressions, and eye contact are all elements of interpersonal communication that we take for granted, but contribute to the enrichment of the face-to-face communication experience.
An important skill is to seize the opportunity to communicate and act upon it. If you're worried about getting started or getting involved, don't be afraid. This may not seem to be the case, but most people feel a little nervous once they start a conversation and connect with others.
As you grow more confident and get closer to people, your network will begin to expand even more.
I think everyone gets anxious when communicating, you don't quite know what to expect. And I guess some people sometimes feel that communicating is like walking into a room full of people you don't know.
And your personality should be interesting and cool and chat with everyone before you leave. Over time, I realized that this does not have to be the way to communicate.
It may be through direct communication as well as through people you meet in unusual circumstances.
It can be said that some people have personalities that help them communicate more. You are likely to be among those people who have high confidence when communicating effectively.
But on the other hand, if you're new to socializing, those skills may not be ready for you yet. You need to develop your self-confidence, and here comes the role of planning and preparation.
See: How to Boost Self-Confidence at Work?
Examples of how to gain experience in communication
I will be completely frank here. I would sometimes prepare for events and spend a lot of time gathering information, planning and preparing for this important meeting, and I didn't use any of the information I had already collected.
Nevertheless, through planning and preparation, I was able to attend the meeting with confidence and calm. It was, I think, similar to the coping mechanism.
Therefore, sometimes planning and preparing is a good way to prepare for an event rather than going into it unprepared.
Through face-to-face communication, I have been involved in many events, conferences and get-togethers. And it was really helpful as you have ideas and directions to help you discuss different topics.
You have plenty of time to relax and interact more face-to-face with several people.
The importance of this lies in the fact that it represents a point of contact from which to start talking about the activities of the day, for example, and to know the nature of their work and their job positions.
I believe that trust is gained over time. The best solution is to look for a friendly face when entering the room.
Oftentimes, this person may know other people in the room they can introduce you to, and then the whole thing becomes less tense.
Tips to reduce stress during communication
So, how do you reduce the initial stress of starting a conversation to connect with people you don't know? First, the key to effective communication is preparation. Start by assessing the situation.
Who will be there, and what do you want to achieve? Try to find out in advance if there are people you know, or if there is someone you'd like to talk to and meet there.
If there are people you know, contact them first. It is often less stressful when you are introduced to someone new through a friend.
If you start networking and don't like the idea of joining a large group, go to a single person. You may find others more willing to join you in a smaller group.
Small groups also provide an opportunity to open up more detailed conversations.
If you don't feel confident enough to be the keynote speaker, tap into your strengths and listen by asking open-ended questions. A good listener is appreciated by others and sometimes enjoys talking about himself for long periods of time.
Allowing others to speak first will give you time to think of a useful topic to contribute to the conversation. Finally, remember to always take a break.
Listening to others intently and answering their questions can be tiring, so make sure you leave the room every now and then.