Research My Networking Event - Step 10: Create Clear Goals

For the networking opportunity you’re heading to… have you set clear, specific goals yet? If not, now’s the time, before you step through the door.

Goals give your networking a purpose. Purpose fuels confidence. And confidence? Well, that’s the most magnetic thing you can bring into any room.

By now, if you’ve followed the first nine research steps, you already know who’s likely to be in the room, the kinds of opportunities waiting for you, and whether the stakes are high, medium, or low. That insight makes setting goals so much easier.

Here’s the best part: when your goals are met, You can leave. You’ve accompished your mission, you don’t have to hang around until the bitter end. You might find however, that you're having such a great time and meeting so many interesting people that you want to stick around.

Which brings us to our final “Research My Networking Event” step…

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#10 Create Clear Networking Goals

  

What are you quantitative and/or qualitative goals for the event?

What is your purpose for attending and how will you know when you've accomplished it?  

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Here are some example goals from the Practiced Professional to help get your juices flowing.

Low Stakes Goals (practice + light connection)

1. Try out a new introduction, see how it lands, and get feedback.

2. Connect two people at the event who should know each other.

Medium Stakes Goals (intentional connection + positioning)

1. Share a relevant story that highlights your work or expertise.

2. Collect 2–3 new contacts you’d genuinely like to follow up with.

High Stakes Goals (strategic impact + outcomes)

1. Connect with a decision-maker or key influencer that you know will be in the room (because you did the research 😊) .

2. Be memorable to at least three people by delivering a powerful intro or insight they’ll talk about after the event.

Helping you craft memorable introductions, practicing researching events, and developing clear goals are core building blocks in the Networking Practice Lab. Our next one is Feb 5 & 6, 2026, let's practice together to maximize your networking results while making the most of your time.

Curious about what happens in the Practice Lab? Come get a taste at our Networking Practice Drill Sessions. They occur every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 11:00am - 11:30am MT via Zoom. Click below to Sign Up and get the Zoom link.

Sign Up For Networking Practice Drills

See You On the Practice Field,

Alyce, Keith, and Renee ~ The Articulated Intelligence Team

At Articulated Intelligence we provide professional development practice labs, staff training, and leadership retreats in the areas of networking, impactful presentations, and leveraging stories in professional settings to build relationships, lead teams with authenticity and confidence, and close more business.