Dear SafetyXChange Members:

One of the most important aspects of networking involves meeting strangers for the first time and turning them into business contacts. Ilise Benun, a Hoboken, NJ-based consultant and author of several books, including Stop Pushing Me Around: A Workplace Guide for the Timid, Shy and Less Assertive and Designing Websites for Every Audience, recently sat down with me and shared three interesting tips on how to do this.

1. Use Nametags as a Networking Device

Some of the best business contacts are made in the course of mixers. A staple at many of these events is the name tag. Sometimes the sponsor of the event will furnish a blank tag and ask each attendee to write his or her own name. Simple, right? But what you might not realize is how much there is to be gained by listing the right information on the name tag.

Most people will just scribble their first and last name. As a conversation starter, a simple name is a non-starter. So stop and think before you pick up that marker. Ask yourself: What kind of information is most likely to arouse the interest of strangers? Is the name of my company familiar? If so, write it out. Do you want people to know what you do? If so, write out your title. Some other pointers:

2. Use Details to Introduce Yourself

"I'm a lawyer," said one guy to me at a recent mixer as he held out his hand to shake mine. Not the most engaging way to start a conversation, especially because there are so many types of lawyers, and so many different ways to react to the statement, "I'm a lawyer." I must admit, my eyes usually glaze over when I hear it. I would much prefer to hear what type of law he practices or what kind of clients he works with. He could have said, "I practice entertainment law and I work with film production companies and movie stars." That would have gotten my attention.

Of course, it's not just lawyers. If you're a safety professional, say what kind of safety you practice when you introduce yourself.

3. Don't Use Jargon

"I work for Pitney Bowes," said another man at this mixer, proffering his card. This technique is also very common. If it's a familiar company, as Pitney Bowes is, offering a company name helps the listener figure out what industry the speaker is in. But what exactly does it tell me about who he is or what he does? If I want to know more, I have to ask a few more questions. Unfortunately, not everybody will go to the trouble. I did make the effort with the gentleman from Pitney Bowes.

"And what do you do for Pitney Bowes?" I asked.

"I'm in Print Management," he said.

Yeesh - jargon! I know what each of those two words - print and management - means individually; but I don't know what they mean together in a single title. When you use jargon that doesn't resonate you succeed only in alienating others. That's why it's essential to think first about who you're talking to before deciding what to say, even in answer to the question, "What do you do?"

Conclusion

Networking is in many ways a complex process that has to be completed in stages. But one of the most basic of all networking activities is the face-to-face encounter with strangers who could become valuable contacts. I hope the techniques set out in this story help you engage in this process successfully.

Wishing you career success,
Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet, www.execunet.com

FATIGUE ON THE JOB
Battling the Afternoon Slump

By Glenn Demby

Do you ever get the yawns at work - especially after lunch? If so, take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. In a recent survey, 85% of U.S. workers admitted that they experience an "afternoon slump" on the job. Two of three said they go through a slump at least three days a work week. The time when slumps occur most often? Between 3 and 5 P.M.

Of course, workplace fatigue is no joke. Employees going through a slump are at heightened risk of injury; and even if you're feeling wide awake, working with a colleague who's slumping puts you in danger.

Some slumps are more severe than others. 28% of the surveyed workers admitted to nodding off at work; 50% said they caught one of their colleagues falling asleep on the job.

In the not so unlikely event that some of your own workers are experiencing slumps, here are some tips you can share with them on keeping awake:

I know, these tips aren't exactly rocket science. But they make sense and could help you and your workers avoid injury and work more productively.

Source: CareerBuilder.com

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