When you a stranger, you are planting tiny seeds of possible business relationship with each person you meet. There's no guarantee that you'll doing business right away but over time you'll harvest a large crop!

I've noticed a few common mistakes that most people make when meeting others. I made them too until I realized how to properly grow in a relationship.

1. Never assume that someone is interested in learning all about you nor your business. It is tempting to do all the talking and explain all there is to know about you and your company. Unfortunately, the person you're talking to wants to do the same thing so this can pose a problem. I believe in holding your tongue while so you don't come across as too aggressive. There's a time and place for doing a sales pitch and it's definitely not when you meet a stranger. It's a known fact that if you tease someone with just enough information that piques their interest, you'll more likely get another chance to go into full detail. Take some time to figure out how to offer a sample or appetizer while networking instead of providing the main course.

2. Don’t bring up someone that you had a negative experience with or engage in gossip. After you start networking, you'll discover how connected people are and you just might be talking about someone they know. Worse yet, they might be considering doing business with them and you may cost the other company money if they lose the business. You might even find out that person is somehow related to the one you are talking about! My advice, simply talk in general terms without ever involving names.

3. Try not to be overbearing with someone you just met. Every person has a different way of communicating and responds differently to meeting total strangers. If you are a Type A individual that talks in a rush and wants to just get to the point, the person you meet might need more information. Don't expect to do a one, two punch with someone that needs everything spelled out. Be aware of the different personality types and do your best to "mirror" them to communicate in the best way they receive information. If they talk slow, you should too. If they are a bottom line person, cut to the chase. To learn more about Personality Types with High-Level Description go to http://www.personalitypage.com/high-level.html

If you are aware of these three mistakes, hopefully you will have better success networking with total strangers and start growing your business!

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 [3 Mistakes Most People Make When They Meet a Stranger]

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