Research My Networking Event - Step 2: Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon

In our last blog we kicked off our series on evaluating if a networking event is high, medium or low stakes so you can prepare appropriately, determine if you need to be more buttoned or playful/experimental, and if you're getting networking overwhelm, which events can you let go.

We started with the “Host/Sponsor Sniff Test”  - Does their work align with your industry and/or goals?

Now let’s explore…

---

#2 Six Degress of Kevin Bacon*

 

Do you know someone from the Host/Sponsor organization(s)?

Or, do you know someone who knows someone from the Host/Sponsor organization(s)?

If yes, this may be a higher stakes event as the Host of Sponsor can help connect you with others at the event.

---

Want some tips on the Practiced Professional's approach to finding connections to the networking event host or sponsors?

Let’s use a Chamber of Commerce networking event as an example to see how this works.

1. Go to the Chamber’s website and go to the staff page.

2. Go to LinkedIn and see if you have a direct connection with any of the staff, (you would think you would just know but with all the connections these days sometimes you need a reminder) or if you have a 2nd or 3rd connection.

3. You have a couple options at this point, you can initiate a connection request and start building the relationship with people from the host organization prior to the event.  And/or you can seek out the person at the event and initiate a fun conversation about your common connections and your six degrees of Kevin Bacon. 

4. You can follow this same process if there are event sponsor(s) as part of the event. For example the Chamber event may be sponsored by a Chamber Member business.

*What’s Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? It's a game based on the idea that any two actors can be connected to Kevin Bacon through a chain of six or fewer movie co-starring connections. It's a playful application of the "six degrees of separation" concept, which suggests that anyone in the world is only six or fewer acquaintances away from one another. 

In case you forgot, a gentle reminder, our next Networking Practice Lab is September 11 & 12. Check it out and save one of the 10 spots so you can increase you networking prowess by way more than 6 degrees.

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.