With the arrival of the new year and the chance to reconnect with clients and colleagues after the summer break, the fear and awkwardness of networking can be a huge roadblock. Whether it be attending that conference you’ve always wanted to get along to, or joining that industry or networking group, there’s no better way to ‘nip this in the bud’ than to just say ‘yes’ to the next invite that lands in your inbox.

So now that you’ve said 'YES' here are our top tips to help you kick that clamminess and awkwardness to the curb. And who knows, you may even have some fun while building some great industry connections.

1. Prepare | Take some time to think about who will be at this function and what you want to get out of it. Going with a plan helps give purpose and focus to your networking, but don't get caught up with this too soon. You're far better off connecting with people that will make the next event so much easier to attend. 
2. Take a friend | Going with a friend or colleague is always a great idea. Just don't spend the whole time together. You'll be rewarded with far more connections than you would have made on your own. 
3. Be open | You don’t know who is working up the courage to introduce themselves to you. Showing your friendly and open approach is a great way of drawing people to you.
4. Eye contact is key | With so many people around, it is imporant to show the person you're speaking with, that you are interested and listening. No one likes meeting someone new to find they are constantly scanning the room. 
5. Listen to ‘engage’, NOT to answer | Thinking of the next question to keep the dialogue going can often distract us from what is actually being shared. There's nothing like speaking to someone who is intently taking an interest in what we are sharing. Ever heard the line "be interested to be interesting"?
6. Genuine connections | Going beyond surface level conversations is where the magic happens. It's where people go out of their way to help others; where knowledge is shared and where careers and networks are expanded.   
7. Use people’s names | They say repeating someone's name 3 times during the conversation can help retain this to memory. We've tried it and it works! It also says a lot about you and how genuine you are about connecting.  
8. Engage and 'link up' | Don't be shy! Connect with people on LinkedIn or send a nice short email the next day to keep the line of conversation open. 
9. Enjoy yourself! | The more events, the more natural networking will become. And when something is natural, it's not a chore or something we dread.