Perfect Simple Business Networking Gestures With Practice, Patience

By Jason Jacobsohn

While communicating with others, you need to make sure you come across confident, professional and friendly. In order to come across this way, you should pay attention to simple communication gestures such as shaking hands, connecting with your eyes, listening to others and speaking clearly.



Take the time to practice these techniques. Pay attention to how you interact with others so you can continuously improve.



Give a Good, Firm Handshake



First impressions are so important and set the tone for a conversation. Make sure to start out right by giving a good, firm handshake. You don’t want to squeeze too hard because you may hurt the other person. A “knuckle-crunching handshake” can signal that you are very aggressive and need to be in control.



On the other hand, you don’t want to give a “dead-fish handshake” as this signals that you may be weak or perceive the other person to be weak. In addition, a wimpy handshake may imply that you are introverted and not confident.



A firm handshake that isn’t too hard or too weak shows that you are confident, extroverted and open to a new relationship. Of course, remember to always use your right hand even if you are a lefty. Lastly, try to keep your drinks in your left hand so you avoid a wet and cold handshake.



It is a good idea to practice shaking hands with a friend, significant other or business colleague. By taking the time to practice, you won’t be caught crushing knuckles or giving a dead fish.



Display Good Eye Contact



Proper communication requires you to give good eye contact when talking with others. Don’t get caught wandering your eyes. This can appear as if you’re not paying attention. While it’s OK to glance away once in a while, don’t make it too obvious by staring at other people or objects.



It is natural to look away and can actually make a conversation less intense at times because you are not constantly staring at the other person. At the same time, don’t look around too much and for too long. You need to come across as courteous and focused on the conversation.



Just like practicing a handshake, take the time to practice eye contact while talking with people close to you. Tell these people to pay attention to your eyes and to let you know if they wander too much.



Good Listening



Another important aspect of communicating with other people is to show that you have good listener cues.



You can show this by paying attention, not interrupting and asking questions. Give people the respect they deserve by listening to what they have to say. Because people like to listen to themselves, make sure you let this happen.



Of course, there are times when people dominate a conversation and you can’t say anything. When this happens, politely work yourself into the conversation by speaking during a pause or cutting in to ask if you can share your thoughts.



Whatever you do, don’t come across as rude or disinterested in what the other person has to say.



A great way to show your interest is to ask questions. While questions show that you are paying attention, they also allow you to get some words in and have a conversation. Practice the fine art of listening when talking with your family and friends.



Speak With Confidence, Clarity



The way you speak is also important. You want to make sure you speak with confidence and clarity so people take you seriously.



If people don’t take you seriously, it will be a challenge for you to build relationships. One way to prepare yourself is to put together a personal introduction about yourself and practice it by yourself or with people close to you.



By preparing yourself this way, you will feel more confident because you will know what to initially talk about. Of course, some people can naturally start conversations with strangers. In that case, practice won’t be as important.



Regardless, it is still important for you to prepare so you can effectively communicate with others. Make sure you don’t speak too fast and make sure you can articulate your message. If people have a hard time understanding you, your conversation won’t be very productive.



Take the time to practice speaking slowly and clearly.



Final Thought



To become an effective networker, you need to spend the time honing your communication skills so people will take you seriously. Focus on these four key techniques: handshake, eye contact, listening skills and speaking ability.

Jason Jacobsohn is a seasoned networker who believes in relationship building as a key component to business success. He enjoys helping others succeed by making introductions, planning events, and sharing resources. In addition, Jacobsohn enthusiastically shares resources with his network through his e-mail newsletter, “Network Your Way to Success,” and http://www.jacobsohn.com , a comprehensive business and networking resources Web site. Further, he shares an additional perspective through his blog at http://www.networkinginsight.com .

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