What to Never Say When Networking

What to Never Say When NetworkingWhat to Never Say When Networking Networking used to be organic. You went to a gathering of like-minded people in your community, or to lunch with individuals the host thought might like to get to know each other. Now its a job. Get to the right darbietung. Meet the right people. Make that contact and follow up. And while there are plenty of stories of the ways people have wowed an executive with a memorable opening line or a particularly creative approach, there are far more networking fails than networking unicorns. Theres a fine line between innovative and inappropriate. Heres what elend to say when networking.1. I didnt think there would be people here that I would actually want to talk to.The primary rule of thumb is Be prepared. Be aware. Be wary. Know why youre going and the general purpose of the meet-up. Be alert to the people and the surroundings. Is everyone there in a suit and tie, talking about crunching numbers? Be war y of saying something that might be misconstrued, or is just idiotic. Listen first. Ask questions first. Dont spout off, before you know who youre talking to.2. Are there any job openings at your company because my boss is the absolute worst.Never, ever trash your boss - present or past. I dont care if your employers have been Frank Underwood and Miranda Priestly . Just dont go there, even if youre asked. This is the time to play it safe. Lots of smiling and evading are called for. Often times you dont know whos asking you or why. And for goodness sake, dont bring it up yourself.3. My friends Zuck and Sheryl are meeting me for dinner after thisBe careful about anthroponym dropping. Again, you may not know the other persons opinions or experiences with the name youre dropping. And this goes for name dropping well-known figures or just acquaintances. If unbeknownst to you, its her ex-brother-in-law who got her into Exxon stock, she may not be too happy to hear about your close relat ionship.4. That reminds me of this one time when I was at OxfordSome over-eager job seekers wedge their college or grad school into all conversations, especially if its a big logo institution. Be careful. People may be impressed. Or, they may be irritated, laugh at your expense or assume youre the pretentious person you appear to be. Modesty is a good policy when you are networking, at least until you get a sense of your room.5. When I think about immigration, taxes, and healthcare, I just thinkPolitics and religions. EEEEH. You may want to steer clear of both of these until you get the lay of the land. Dumping on Obama at a Dem heavy event is obviously not too smart, but then neither is trashing Trump when you have no idea of someones background or POV.6. Can you believe that new show on Scientology? That is soReligion is the same situation. Dont start conversations by making fun of an individual or a groups belief system. Humor at networking events can be filled with landmines. You just never know.7. If you ask any of my managers, theyll tell you Im a truly disruptive innovator andDont use outdated, over-used and badly applied clichs. These are sure to get eye rolls Think out of the box. Disruptor. Game-changer. Break down silos. I have the bandwidth. Push the envelope.While speaking directly is important in business, being this direct is downright presumptuous and rude. When networking, its risky to ask for a job from a new acquaintance. Its just asrisky to request a reference, especially if youve just met the person. Networking should yield a mutually beneficial relationship, not an Aladdin and the genie arrangement. Your wish is not their command.