Networking and Interpersonal Skills

2. Welcome The name of a famous person has been pinned on your back This famous person is usually associated as being one of a couple Circulate around the room and ask questions to help you guess who you are Once you know who you are find your partner Discuss the �networking with confidence� slide

3. You�ve joined the university�s poetry society and had an email from Tom the secretary inviting you to an introductory evening social event at The Fenton. You�re nervous so you get there early, buy a drink and sit down to wait for the others. Everyone else arrives in pairs or small groups and cluster around the bar. Do you :- Stay sitting where you are and leave when you�ve finished your drink. Walk up to a group and say �Hello I�m Jenny can I join you?� Shout across to the group �Hey poets, come and sit with me!� Go up to the group. Ask if anyone knows Tom, and when he�s pointed out to you explain who you are. If you answer a) then you are going to need to find a very hands off approach to developing your network. In this situation you have to make the first move. Whilst people are often thoughtless in group situations but this time no-ones ignoring you � they don�t even know you�re there! b) Good networking potential. Make sure you smile. Try not to interrupt. Have some follow up small talk to fall back on c) Its good to be assertive without being loud or pushy. Be careful of alcohol. Enough may give you a relaxed, confidence but tipping the balance can have disastrous consequences. d) Good technique. Using a point of reference � someone who can be expected to feel responsible to easing your way in. If you answer a) then you are going to need to find a very hands off approach to developing your network. In this situation you have to make the first move. Whilst people are often thoughtless in group situations but this time no-ones ignoring you � they don�t even know you�re there! b) Good networking potential. Make sure you smile. Try not to interrupt. Have some follow up small talk to fall back on c) Its good to be assertive without being loud or pushy. Be careful of alcohol. Enough may give you a relaxed, confidence but tipping the balance can have disastrous consequences. d) Good technique. Using a point of reference � someone who can be expected to feel responsible to easing your way in.

5. Talking with a purpose What is your purpose? Social/conversational Professional/ networking Social supportive Finding common ground �Which do you prefer questions?� Open questions which encourage dialogue Active listening Rapport and reinforcement Empathy Body Language Be open and receptive Smile Don�t cross your arms or legs! Maintain eye contact Friends and acquaintances Romantic? Business or professional colleagues � people with status, seniority, reputation? Mentor/mentee, confidant, adviser? Establishing Conversation

6. Establishing Conversation - genuineness

7. Effective Communication

8. 1. Be aware of your body language and how it evidences interest and respect: eye contact, gestures, posture 2. Be self aware: Understand your own feelings and emotions can influence the communication process � don�t allow subjectivity or discrimination to be an influence. 3. Use questions to demonstrate your engagement � open, clarifying, recall, parroting / re-stating 4. Concentrate on what the person you are talking to is saying. Be interested. 5. Be �other person centred�: Try to �know where they are coming from�. Establish the emotional state of the person speaking � don�t just listen to the words. Active Listening

9. Barriers to Active Listening

10. Make it important � take the responsibility Get it right at the beginning Listen when people introduce themselves Clarify and repeat if you didn�t get it the first time Parrot � bring it in to conversation as frequently as possible Are you a visual person? Remember by picturing associations Are you a written person? Ask for a card, write it in your diary straight after the event Do you prefer sounds and tunes? Make up a rhyme or pattern Value people � remember their names

11. Developing Confidence in Social Situations

12. How do you develop or maintain a conversation? Maintain positive body language and behaviour, including tone of voice and posture Establish common ground Identify common tasks � why are you there? What are you supposed to be doing? Be interested in what others are saying. Evidence active listening. Use recall, process and probing questions which clarify or follow up on leads the conversation offered earlier Facilitate group conversations � take the lead by bringing in others and helping them contribute. Developing Confidence in Social Situations

13. Intercultural and Gender issues Establishing physical rapport: Shaking hands Touching arm Proxemics: In my space vs. supportive proximity Body Language: Eye contact and eye aversion Question Styles: Respect and deference vs. exploring and probing

14. Intercultural Variations

15. Resources to support interpersonal skills

16. Skills@Library Listening and Interpersonal Skills Resources

17. Self awareness and action planning Personality profiling @ the Careers Centre Type Dynamics Indicator � a personality indicator which helps you identify your personal style including your preferences in interacting with others etc. Listening Skills Audit - LearnHigher Action planning What you going to do differently as a result of this workshop?

18. SWOT Analysis And SMART Action Planning