What Do You Bring To The Table?

Are You Your Best Tool For Networking And Sales?

by Terri DeBoo
All American Roofing

I want to talk about something I have noticed lately at events. 

People are bringing negativity to the table.  Figuratively and literally.  Whenever I’m in a group, whether it’s standing at a networking function or sitting at an event, it’s around a “table” in my mind.  It feels good to sit around a table and chat after a nice meal; it’s warming to remember times sitting around a table playing games and laughing with friends.  So, when I am at any networking event I feel most comfortable in a mini group sharing and forming a “table” of sorts. 

But people seem to be bringing negative conversations to the table.  I cannot tell you how many times a lively conversation will be converted to a rebuttal debate by one person making a statement of “fact” or giving an opinion about something controversial during a networking event.  I have to ask these negative nillies: Are you out of your minds?? 

Please stop listening to inane talk radio shows and quoting them at an event to “make conversation”.  That’s not conversation.  That’s a viewpoint that is better shared with your friends or family, not potential business associates. 

Ask yourself this question.  Are you the positive energy in a room that people draw from or are you the negative power that saps the energy from the group?  Do people feel good from having been near you and have you brighten someone’s day?  That should be your goal.  Not just for business, either, but it should be how you live your life.  Negative conversations are not relationship building.  On the contrary, they leave lasting impressions you may not have intended to make. And they are draining as well. 

The worse offenders are the uninformed, uninvolved and often extremely opinionated.  I may ruffle some feathers here, but do you really think talk radio shows and their hosts are telling you the whole truth?  Do you really believe you are now informed about all aspects of a political problem because it was on the talk radio show?  Those shows are designed to “Poke the Bear.” The hosts create controversy in order to get callers railed so that ratings will soar and commercial time will sell at a higher rate per 30 seconds.  If the lemmings don’t run for the cliffs the hosts can’t sell radio time and their shows get cancelled.  That’s why they yell into the mikes and make grandiose statements of “truths” so listeners will react. 
I know I cannot be telling you something you don’t already know.  But I will tell you this – I will never have this conversation during a networking event.  I have opinions based on facts that I learn from being involved and volunteering and learning first hand whether it’s politics or not.  Why would I be the person saying did you hear about so and so, and such and such…..?  Remember, conversation without accurate information is simply gossip!!!

Radio talk show hosts who name call and say ugly things are not giving you information. They are mean spirited and protecting their jobs by getting callers to actively participate on their shows.  Again, in order TO SELL ADVERTISEMENTS SLOTS. 

So, please when we are enjoying some conversations and exchanging business information, do us all a favor and try to refrain from quoting uninformed, no kernel of truth, mean, dirty statements that are insulting to the listener and a great negative energy flow producer to the group. 

Networking is all about relationships and building one another up and it cannot be done any other way but for positive thoughts and a happy disposition to permeate the proceedings.  People who radiate warmth and laughter will always be surrounded in the room. 

Notice who you like to be around.  Is it the “Eyeores” in the room or the “Pooh Bears.”  Do you know someone who just brightens the room simply because they entered?  What did they do to make that happen?  Did they have a positive outlook? Did they create a circle of people just wanting to be around them?  Find that person at the next event and hang with them.  You will come away happier yourself.    You will notice they kept it light -- no politics or religion.  And no trash talk. 

So go make it a kinder and gentler world and, next time you see me, maybe we can get in at least one verse of Kumbiya.