As we have seen before, business networking events are about meeting different kinds of people and creating a genuine connect with them, which may or may not translate into business opportunities. The way to get started on creating this connect is by getting to know all about the person (from the business community) you are having a conversation with, like the industry they are in; their business successes, challenges, hopes etc. So let us go ahead and take a look at the right type of questions to start off your conversation with another person.
The 4 Key Questions
After the initial pleasantries where the two of you’ll have introduced yourselves and found out which industry each of you’ll specialise in, you can ask these follow up questions to show your genuine interest in the other person’s business venture:
1. What got them interested in their chosen industry?
This question will go to show that you are genuinely interested in what they are doing. Listening to their journey in the business world and the choices they made will throw up some interesting insights into the actual person behind the business persona. This will help you to better understand and truly connect on a more personal level with the person.
The person you are conversing with will also realise that you have more than a cursory interest in them and will appreciate and respect you more for it.
2. Ask Questions Related to the Industry They are in
Getting the person you are having a conversation with to speak about the subject closest to their heart works as an excellent ice breaker. Any initial hang-ups they may have melts away when they start talking about the industry they are specialising in. A few related questions you can ask them are:
- What has been the progression they have seen in their industry over the years
- What changes do they want to see happening over the next few years
- If there has been any major announcements made regarding their industry like mergers, acquisitions etc, you can get their expert opinion on it
In this way you get to also expand your knowledge about that industry and look at related events from a new perspective.
3. Ask if You can Help Out in any Way
During the course of your conversation if you find out that the other person is encountering any issues in their business which you have the expertise to solve, offer your assistance. If they accept your offer, do everything within your power to solve their issues. People always appreciate someone who makes good on their promise.
4. Don’t Make it all About Business
Asking the other person a few non-business related questions will also help in building a personal connect and also lighten up the conversation. Asking them about their hobbies and interests outside of their work may bring up common areas of interest which will provide an opportunity to bond over.
Asking these 4 key questions will definitely show your genuine interest in the other person and go a long way in building a strong business relationship.
