As we go about our daily activities we meet and engage with many people.

Occasionally, in conversation with a stranger, we realize that we and that person share many common interests.

In cases like this, the temptation is to become totally engrossed in conversation
with the friendly stranger excluding everyone else.

If there are no uninterested companions, there is no problem in yielding to temptation.

Planned Networking Opportunities

All business organizations and associations provide opportunities for members to interact with each other and discuss their respective businesses. As a result, they simplify the task of identifying people who can probably help.

Like unplanned contacts with strangers, networking begins when two members of the same organization discover that they have common interests.

It is acceptable, even expected that you pursue areas of mutual interest with people whom you meet spontaneously at a business event.

Other situations in which like-minded people can interact with each other arise in planned activities called "networking sessions."

Normally, these sessions are separate components of regular meetings. After a preliminary activity, such as a meal or speaker, the networking session begins.

Networking sessions might also be an element of another function such as a conference or seminar.

In format, these events can range all the way from totally unstructured gatherings to highly structured and very tightly controlled activities.

Unstructured Networking Activities

In an unstructured format, the chair of the meeting announces something like "It is now time for networking" and advises or instructs the participants "to network with each other."

With little, if any, further instructions, the participants are left on their own to introduce themselves to each other and discuss their respective businesses.

Unstructured gatherings are ideal for very focused and self-directed individuals. With little effort, they can connect with like-minded people and discuss mutual concerns.

Unfortunately, the same unstructured gatherings can be disastrous for less focused and self-directed people.

They are more likely to be spectators at the event, watching others interact. At the
end of the event, they are often left unsatisfied, still looking to meet someone who can help.

Structured Networking Activities

In a more structured format, everyone is expected to follow the instructions of the leader or facilitator.

Typically, the leader divides the large group into smaller groups either with or without specific criteria.

These criteria could be business-related such as type, size, age or geographic
location of business or non-business or random such as color of name tag or
participants' birthdays. The leader then gives the small groups a task to
perform or a topic to discuss.

The real purpose is to allow members to get to know each other, facilitating a discussion of their businesses.

Ideally, this process will lead to the point that individual participants can identify how they can help each other.

Structured gatherings are good for people who are more reserved in meeting others and less assertive when seeking help.

By following instructions and answering specific questions they can probably open up and discuss their businesses more easily and effectively than might otherwise be the case.

Very focused and self-directed individuals are often frustrated by structured gatherings.  Instead of moving in their own direction at their own pace, they must go with the flow, patiently waiting for everyone to participate.

To learn more about networking as well attracting more ideal clients see