Effective Online Networking Skills: Adam Cohen's Personal Networking Icebreaker ... What's yours?

Photo by Wally G

What's your best personal networking conversation starter at a networking event?

Background

This week I am an online mentor on the topic of "Effective Online Networking" as part of the Networking for Success project at the the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre.   My opening post shared some ideas and tips.  There were so many wonderful comments and blog posts that I've been able to summarize the wisdom in these three posts -- read them for context, if you're just joining this thread.  Skip, if you've been following.

1.) Your Advice to African Women About Personal Online Networking Skills

2.) Nurturing Relationships

3.) Network Weaving Skills

Context

Adam Cohen left a wonderful comment with some awesome practical and tactical advice about personal social networking:

I can't remember the book this came from, but the best specific tip I have ever received about networking is a question to ask when you are at events and meeting people: "If I were to refer someone to you, what would I tell them?" It has always garnered a great dialog and let's down the walls people put up about promoting themselves. Not to mention I learn a lot and love to connect the dots for people that can value each other.

This got me thinking ... always a dangerous thing ... about pick up lines.  I googled and found this post. And, please, don't get offended, I just had to laugh ...

• Michelangelo: I feel like before I met you, everyone I’d ever known was made of stone.
• Leonardo da Vinci: I find your smile absolutely intriguing.
• Vincent Van Gogh: Ear’s lookin’ at you!
• Sigmund Freud: As far as I’m concerned, there’s just you and my mother–I mean, and no other.
• Thomas Edison: I know you’ve never heard this phrase before, but trust me: You turn me on.

Anyway ... Imagine you're at a conference, a professional networking event.  What's you're best conversation opener?  Share it in the comments, I'll summarize!   

Comments

[Rob Ashton]

As my housemates always say,

"fifty tonne penguin!"
"yep, that'll break the ice"

Oh dear.

[Sokthy]

I also like social networking through online. it should help social benefits

[John Lampard]

Someone at a networking gig I went to once said to me "you really a wingman in these sorts of situations don't you?" Was quite a good opener really, and we ended up having a good chat. Now I use the line :)

[Beth Kanter]

@John is "wingman" an australian term?

[Stales]

My best personal networking conversation starters:

What did you do on your last vacation? This question gets alot of interest and allows conversations to really get going. I always try to introduce myself first and ask the first question. Then I listen to the responses and the conversations go from there.

Other questions:

What kinds of projects are you working on right now?
What are you hoping to learn from this conference, seminar, event?
What is the product or service your business provides?
Tell me about your ideal clients and how I might recognize them.

For additional networking advice, I follow:
http://www.effectivenetworking.com/
http://businessnetworkingadvice.com/

[Standtall]

Hi Beth, you have got interesting thing going on here. I am proud of you

[Maddie Grant]

A wee bit off topic, but I heard of a great way to use tag clouds as icebreakers for networking - posted about it here - http://www.diaryofareluctantblogger.com/2008/03/heres-really-cool-idea.html

P.s. "wingman" is not Australian, as far as I know, I use that term a lot with my friends - it just means you network in pairs, so you're not so terrified... : )

[Danielle Brigida]

Despite the desire to, I don't open with "what's your favorite wildlife?"

-Though I think I should.

I usually just say something relating to what we are doing and then ask the person questions while keeping it light-hearted. I like meeting new people but I usually use the situation I'm in to start the conversation...