10 Ways to NOT Make a KO Impression!

Written by Michael Goldberg

As in NOT a good impression!

The first line spoken by John Wick 4’s villain, the Marquis de Gramont, is “How you do anything is how you do everything.” The first and last rule of life by which he now abides.

How you do anything is certainly how you do everything. How do these behaviors translate to business networking?

All About Them
If you meet someone at a networking event and they only talk about their business, goals, and success, it becomes difficult to connect with them.

Needing the Nudge
The reminder to register, make the introduction, send the information, confirm the start time, follow through, respond to messages, or take the next step sends a message. Those best at getting the thing done tend to have control of their world.

Distant Meeting
When someone schedules a meeting with you far into the future it doesn’t send the message that you’re very important. Outside of travel, projects, health issues, if they wanted to meet with you, they would find a way.

Not Taking the Lead
Booking the meeting, planning for parking, paying the check, suggesting next steps, confirming, taking notes, and setting up a next meeting if appropriate goes a long way. So does the opposite.

Not Being Helpful
“How can I help?” My favorite question to ask when at an event or even socially. What a great way to be a resource when there are numerous things going on with registration, food and beverage, seating arrangements, distributing materials, and whatever it might take to help organizers.

Relying on Others for Intros
Take the lead and introduce yourself to someone that doesn’t seem busy. Most people are not good at this so again, take the lead. “Hi! My name is…! Nice to meet you! Have you been to this event before? Do you know anyone here? What are you looking to accomplish? How can I help?”

Unreliable
Can’t we always peg those that will register last, be late, have a last-minute reason to cancel, will need to leave early, or simply “no show”? If you can’t think of anyone that falls into this category, it might be YOU!

Multi-tasking
Doing several things at once may be helpful at the supermarket, in customer service, or driving (sometimes). In most cases, especially online, it leaves the impression that you’re not important.

Being Unprepared
The meeting may not go well if you’re unaware of who the person is, how you got connected, and having at least an idea about how you might develop a relationship, close a deal, refer one another, or solve the problem.

Lacking Positivity, Passion, Fun
It’s difficult to connect with someone that is not positive, upbeat, and passionate about what they do and those they help. Again, law of attraction dictates that positive people attract positive people so be one of them.

So, if how we do anything is how we do everything, how do these behaviors translate to your business networking?

HOW DO YOU LEAVE A KO IMPRESSION? 🥊