Just back from a business networking evening. Despite a frosty evening and a 6pm rush hour congestion risking start time it was well attended with 30+ people there.

What was interesting was the attitude and behaviour of people. One or two seemed to be engaged in a 'collect everyones business card' game. Others seemed to stick with the same one or two people all evening and others did circulate around. Some just made a straight sales pitch and only as an after-thought asked the other person what they did. One of two people seemed to be very well connected and introduced people to others.

I guess some people had a clear objective and worked towards it but most would have gone with a unspecific intention to 'meet people' and see how it went.

All-in-all a typical networking evening.

Who will get the most out of it? Those with 3 clear ROI objectives

• Those that plan to keep attending to build on the contacts made.
• Those that took the time and trouble to listen and find out about others and see if they can help by introducing them to their own 'other' network (call it 'pay-it-forward' attitude)
• Those that went with the intention of meeting someone just like them