Women in Nuclear (WiN) Canada is hosting its sixth annual conference this week. The WiN conference is held the same day as the Canadian Nuclear Association conference’s opening reception, both offering lots of time for networking.

I came across this little gem of an article in the Toronto Star a few weeks ago and thought it would make an excellent pre-conference blog post. The article “How to start a conversation” written by Paola Loriggio, offers some great advice:

“Smile. You'll look - and sound - friendlier. People are wary of strangers, but a smile usually gets you a couple seconds of attention. That's all you need.

Don't hesitate. Just walk up and say something, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. You don't want to give them a chance to turn away. (Note: This is the hard part, but it gets easier with practice.)

Start with "Hi," or if that seems too bold, say something about your surroundings. ("Was that Feist getting on the subway?") Stay away from a preface like "Do you have a minute?" That's a trademark of canvassers, and gets anyone's guard up.

Mind your manners, but don't be stuffy. Go ahead, crack a joke, show some personality. Just make sure you know your audience: dropping f-bombs might be fine at a bar, but it won't fly at your grandma's garden party.

Reciprocate. If you want someone to open up, be prepared to do the same. Reciprocity builds trust, and it'll keep the conversation going. Again, keep it PG. ("You're from Montreal? I lived there for a few years when I was in circus school.")

Don't overstay your welcome. End it before the awkward pauses begin. Smile, say goodbye, and go gracefully.
Most important, don't take rejection personally. It happens to everyone, even the professionals.”

For some people networking comes very naturally, they of course are the “people people”. For others it is as painful as a root canal. It is particularly difficult if you don’t know many people in the room, but remember there are lots of others in the room who feel exactly the way you do and are just waiting for someone to come and talk to them. So go ahead put on your best smile, go up, say hi and have some fun chatting with others. Remember to be yourself and listen more than you talk.

Other tips on starting a conversation:

http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Conversation-When-You-Have-Nothing-to-Talk-About

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Start-a-Conversation-Effortlessly&id=33617