Networking at events is easy... until you're actually there.

Networking at events is easy... until you're actually there.

I used to send my sales team to events thinking the hard part was getting them there.

Flights? Booked.
Passes? Paid for.
Booth? Set up.

But once we arrived, something familiar would happen—our team would stick together.

Not because they didn’t care.
Not because they weren’t great at their jobs.

But because networking in a room full of strangers is hard.

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The brain defaults to safety—sticking with familiar faces, checking email instead of making eye contact, waiting for the perfect moment to introduce yourself.

But the reality is, pipeline doesn’t come from staying in the comfort zone. It happens in conversations.

So how do you make sure you and your team are having them?

💡 Before the event: set yourself up for success

↪ Have a game plan – Instead of “talk to as many people as possible,” set a goal like “have five quality conversations with people in my industry.”

↪ Use weak ties to your advantage – Research shows opportunities often come from acquaintances, not close friends.

↪ Reframe networking as curiosity – Shift your mindset from "I need to meet people" to "Who can I learn from today?"

💡 Breaking the ice: start conversations without the awkwardness

↪ Make an observation – Instead of “What do you do?” try “This session was packed—what did you think?”

↪ Use the FORD framework – Ask about Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams to spark natural conversations.

↪ Compliment + question – “That’s a great jacket! Where’d you get it?” Small connections lead to big opportunities.

💡 Working the room: how to avoid getting stuck

↪ Exit gracefully – “Great chatting! I’m going to meet a few more folks before the next session.”

↪ Introduce people to each other – “You should meet [Name]—they were just talking about something you’d find interesting.”

↪ Be a connector, not a collector – Quality over quantity.

💡 After the event: turn conversations into connections

↪ Reference your chat in follow-ups – Instead of a generic “Great meeting you,” say “Loved our chat about [topic]—let’s keep in touch!”

↪ Offer value first – Share an article, a relevant intro, or a helpful resource before making an ask.

↪ Engage beyond events – Comment on their posts, send a casual DM, or invite them to something relevant.

The best way to make sure your team actually works the room?

🪽Bring a Wing Person.🪽

They help break the ice, create warm introductions, and make sure you leave with meaningful connections—not just a pile of business cards.

What’s your best event networking tip?

Heading to an event and want to connect with the right people?

A Wing Person can help.

Book a chat to learn how. https://calendly.com/tjenashaena/interested-in-a-wing-person