How to Spot Wannabes and Pretenders at a Networking Event

Attending networking events can be extremely beneficial—that is, if you approach them the right way. To get the most from one you should take steps to prepare before you go, understand how to best maximize your time when you’re there, and then know how to follow up with your new connections.

However, some people look at networking events as a way to speak to as many people as they can within a short amount of time, and just hand out and collect as many business cards as possible. I assure you this won’t get you far.

It’s pretty easy to spot these “wannabes” and “pretenders” because they:

1. Express a lack of sincerity. They’re not carrying out genuine discussions or really being present in the moment, but rather looking for a short-term outcome without any real value; they’ll most likely express poor body language or you may note negative vibes when having a conversation.
2. Look for quantity, not quality. Again, they want to gather as many names as possible to simply increase their number of contacts and are most likely “working” the room. You probably only need to see the expression on the faces of the people they’re speaking with to recognize who they are. This is not the right approach; believe me, quality over quantity wins EVERY time.
3. Are only in it for themselves. Networking should focus on the value you can offer and provide to those within your spheres of influence; it’s not only about what you will get out of it. There are people who constantly only look out for their own personal well-being, and this will not garner strong connections. In short—they’re an “ask-hole”!
4. Do not offer to give, only to get. A healthy relationship is one built on reciprocity and mutual trust and respect. When you do deliver something of value to your connections you are building the foundation for a robust network; but many individuals don’t approach it this way and never offer to give anything of themselves.

These “ask-holes” are the types of people who give networking a bad name. Of course, you can’t change the way they network, but you can try to avoid them. As entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” You don’t want to be associated with these individuals because then others may want to avoid making a connection with you, too.

Want to learn even more strategies to help you recognize who to avoid and who to focus your time on at these kinds of gatherings? Sign up for our Conference/Event Playbook course where you’ll discover how to embrace the opportunity to cultivate connections with the right people through educational videos, tools and resources with tips you can implement immediately. It will open you up to a whole new world of relationship-building.

Make it a great day and remember to always NetWorkWise.