Did you watch the Olympics?

What a spectacle of achievement, hard work and excellence.

With the track and field events coming in the second week I couldn’t help thinking that some of the running events resembled networking!

More often than not you would watch runners bolt off into the lead and this was in most distances only to be clawed back by athletes who stuck to their plan and knew where their strengths lie. They had the staying power to reach the finish line in front.

At most networking events you will see exactly the same thing.

There will be the person who shoots off trying to speak to as many people as possible, probably thrusting business cards or leaflets into your hand and explaining what they do without even asking you what you do.

Ask yourself if you have been to a networking event where you have spoken to some people and they have never asked you what you do?

So be the canny runner who has and sticks to their plan.

Start slow, get to know a few people, work the room methodically. You may have people you have targeted as a good connection, seek them out if you know who is going beforehand. Prepare what you are going to say but more importantly ask them as many relevant questions, you want them to know that you are interested in them and then they will be more interested in you.

But don’t launch in talking business. How has their day gone? How did they get there? Any holidays organised?

There are all sorts of questions you can lead with and always remember people buy people. If you have the best service or product in the world if you don’t connect there is a good chance they may go elsewhere.

As the race continues you may want to step up the pace and start talking a little bit of work but don’t rush it you want to reach the finish line in good shape so you can stick your neck out and finish first.

When we say finish, the end result should always be the opportunity to arrange a 1-2-1 this is the gold medal of networking. It may not be getting a date in the diary there and then but the opportunity to call or email to arrange a meeting.