So I am at an event recently.
Two people were talking in what seemed like open conversation, so I turned to face them, smiled and started listening.
They were both in some sort of financial services type sector. It was clear from the body language that one of them had been doing most of the talking. He was stood slightly forward and the other person was shuffling awkwardly from foot to foot.
They carried on talking, both smiled at me. Neither made any effort to engage me.
I am pretty sure I would have engaged a “stranger” as an “escape route” if I was being “spoken at” – But no.
Conversation continues – one sided. After a minute or two – he looks at his watch and says, rightio, time to go.
Shakes hands with us both and says
“Sorry, I didn’t get your name”
“Jonathan” I replied
“OK, well nice to meet you Jonathan” he says
(thinks) – “Yes but we didn’t did we?” You spoke AT me and then left.
Maybe I was a potential client, maybe I was a competitor, maybe I could have referred you loads of work.
Thing is, you will never know…
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Can I be Overall Organisational Concept please. Great post Jon :-)
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Jane Smith
I love your story in ‘networking blunders’. It is so real and has happened to me once or twice! It’s probably not so common nowadays as competition for work is getting keener. However if I was in the powerful position of having opportunities to tell people about , I would probably be more interested in the quiet people than the noisy ones!
Jonathan
Hello Jane – I definitely think the quietest ones are the worst (or best depending on your point of view – wink wink).
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