Gain confidence when networking: Name badge blunders.
Gain confidence when networking with some simple steps. There are many different aspects to networking and each one follows some straightforward principles. Confidence can build rapidly when you know exactly what to do, when and with whom. This article, the first in a series, will cover three essential steps to help you gain confidence.
Here are three steps on displaying names confidently and effectively so you avoid name badge blunders.
Gain confidence when networking - tip one: Wear a name badge.
I have just attended a networking breakfast. Out of the 60 people there I counted fewer than ten who had a name badge. I went around asking people where their name badges were and most said, "Oh, I left it at home" or "in the drawer at work".
A smaller group said, "I thought the organiser would provide them". A third group said, "I don't have one". These excuses can leave a bad impression.
If you want to be seen to be confident wear a name badge. It is one of the networking basics. Displaying your name helps people to know who you are.
Gain confidence by knowing that you can take responsibility for your own name badge. Don't leave it up to the organisers; they may not give you one or may not have one that is good enough.
Develop a networking kit and make sure a name badge is part of it.
If gaining confidence is your goal begin by making it easy for people to know your name. This is important for people meeting you for the first time. It is also important for people who have met you before but who can't remember your name. Save them this embarrassment. It will also assist the people who have met you before and don't remember your face, but do recognise your name when they see it.
Also, if you have initially met in an online social networking site such as Facebook or LinkedIn people may know your name from a discussion group, fan-page or tweet, but not know what you look like.
Make it easy for everyone and then you all have less to worry about. This then helps you to gain confidence. The easier you make it for other people the more relaxed they will be networking with you. Then you too can be relaxed and confident.
At the simplest level you can take a large sticky label and a thick black pen, and write one quickly. It can be that easy!
Even more tips on networking: "Business networking: The skills you need".
Gain confidence when networking - tip two: Wear a BIG name badge.
How many times have you met people at a networking function whose names you can't read easily? Many probably.
People wear name badges that are ineffective. The print is too small. There is too much extraneous information on the badge. The font is too fancy or in a colour that does not stand out from the background.
If I meet you at a networking event I do not want to stare at your chest. I can feel awkward having to spend a long time deciphering your name. Also, I don't wish to mispronounce your name because I can't see it clearly.
Help me by having the confidence to wear a name badge in large, easy-to-read print.
What do I mean by large? I mean large.
When I have Rachel Green on a hand-written badge the letters are at least 2.5 cms high. If I only have Rachel on the badge it is even bigger. Write the maximum size that will fit on whatever badge you have.
Confidently declare who you are.
Don't fall into the trap of surrounding your name with your company logo, your company information or any other unnecessary details or graphics. These can make it harder to read your name. Only include the essentials.
When your name badge is large and easy-to-read it will help people to have the confidence to greet you. Then you can also gain confidence.
Gain many more practical tips on networking on our 3 CD set. Click here for full details.
Gain confidence when networking - tip three: Choose an easy-to-see location
Wear the badge where people can see it easily. People who wear their badges in hard-to-see places make it difficult for everyone. Networking is about building relationships and rapport with people. Your name badge is a part of this. Why make it difficult for people?
Lanyards that dangle around necks, for instance, are often so long they rest on people's bellies. This is too far away from the eye of the reader. Who ever started the trend of using lanyards at conferences and networking events has made it harder for all of us.
One of the hardest name badges I have had to read was at an event where the host was very well organised. We were all given lanyards on entry. Then we were invited to place our business cards in them. I could see he was doing this to help us with our business promotion, which was wonderful.
However, how many business cards have you seen that make good name badges? Possibly none. My cards certainly do not easily double as a name badge.
Usually there is too much additional information on a business card for it to make a suitable name badge. In addition, the font size is usually very small. I have trouble reading some business cards when I have them right in front of me, the writing is so tiny on some of them. They are certainly of no value in a low slung lanyard.
I have seen others who wear their badges on their shoulders, inside their jackets or on their belts. None of these work.
Think always of the people who will be trying to read your badge. After all, this is who the badge is for!
Where can you confidently display your name?
Firstly, high up your chest below your collar bone, and to one side.
Secondly, on the side that will move towards the other person when you shake their hand. Thus, if you put your right arm out to shake hands, place the name badge on the right hand side. This means as your arm moves forward so does your name badge.
If you place it on your left side, it means the badge goes backwards as your arm comes forward.
Gain even more tips on networking conversations. Click here for the full details.
My name badge blunder
I had to laugh at my recent networking breakfast. While l was asking people to wear name badges one of my colleagues came up to me and said, "Rachel you could at least put your badge on straight". We laughed as he rearranged it for me. A good point. Sadly, hand eye co-ordination is not my strength but I will take more care in future.
Gain confidence when networking step-by-step. Taking care of the details when displaying your name can be one of the important steps to pay attention to. May you gain confidence in abundance.
Written by Rachel Green: Motivational Speaker | Award-winning Communication & Networking Specialist.
Rachel has provided networking training for many leading organisations for over 15 years. She also has a dynamic keynote speech "Meet, greet and speak" that can get everyone at your conference or event mingling madly!
She is the author of "Business networking: The skills you need", the definitive collection of conversation tips and topics to make any social interaction or networking function easy. Click here to obtain your copy.
Copyright Confident Woman Australia, 2010.
Rachel Green
Reader Comments (8)
I am presently having my own badges made up - with the name being impressed into the plastic. I've ordered circular ones. They are only $16.50 each. I'll let you know what they look like when I get them back.
Rachel.
At our annual forums we have made a point of everyone wearing easy to read name badges with nothing but the first and surnames. We have had feedback from people who have said "I would never have sat next to that politician, government head etc had I known who he/she was, but I did, and they listenend to my story. I felt really good about that and I was confident to speak to them".
Our forums may have a mix of government agency people, occasionally local members of parliament or a retired Governor General, Shire CEO's, prominent public speakers (like yourself!) and grass roots rural community people. The simple act of making everyone aware of the other's name, but not status has led to some amazing conversations and mutually successfuly contacts. It is an invaluable tool.
Thanks for the great tips on font size, placement and lanyard v. fixed badge. That was something I was not aware of. Good advice.
Chris
Southern Regions Community Leadership Group (Inc.)
Had to get the plug in!
Andrew Canion
Which side to place the name badge on is important for another reason too. I heard that memory is controlled by the left hand side of the brain which actually gets direct information from the right hand field of vision so wearing your name badge on the left hand side may help the people you are facing remember your name more easily. This is especially true if they are a group of predominantly left-brained people ie analytical types like accountants and lawyers.
By contrast if you are networking with a group of very right-brained (ie creative) people, then wearing your card on your right-hand lapel may help you make a connection quicker with your "audience". I'm going to an art exhibition tomorrow night and trust me, I'll be remembering to put my name badge on the right!
Brenda Eckstein
Networking Specialist in South Africa
http://www.strategy-leadership.com
Felicity Sarah Law