If you take the time to prepare for the meeting, you will get much more benefit and pleasure from communicating with partners and clients. Preparation for business contacts is especially important. Many people spend quite a lot of time arranging an appointment, but after the date, time and place are set, a breath of relief is heard. However, it’s too early to relax.
What to Look for When Preparing for a Business Meeting?
There are a few points that you should pay attention to so that at the end of the meeting, your hand is shaken with regret that the time for communication has come to an end. This usually happens if:
- you are an interesting companion;
- you have common interests;
- you are an attentive listener and show genuine interest;
- you are well aware of the state of affairs of the interlocutor;
- you managed to improve the mood of tour business partners.
Check Out the Business Partner Facts
Going to a meeting with a business partner, do not be too lazy to tap his/her name and the name of the company into the Google search box. Find publications about him/her and the business. Perhaps, he/she got into the reviews of major business publications, or the company was a participant in high-profile scandals and journalistic investigations.
By collecting extra facts, you can get additional information about the interlocutor to make sure that further contact is appropriate. Moreover, during the conversation, you can always mention some facts. Such awareness will flatter the interlocutor, increase his/her self-esteem and give him/her a reason to brag about their successes. Your knowledge will be appreciated.
Find Common Points
Look on social networks and find your counterpart. Examine the account, and see the latest published posts. Try to find a few facts that are common to you. Perhaps, you also:
- collect hunting knives;
- are obsessed with opera;
- have a dog of the same breed at home;
- studied in the same specialty at a university;
- lived in the same city;
- served in the same branches of the military;
- graduated from a music school in one class of instrument.
Any commonality increases the mutual interest of the interlocutors. If you mention a fact in a conversation, you will arouse increased interest and recognition from your counterpart. The more such facts, the higher the likelihood of strengthening the relationship.
Prepare Breaking Topics
Good preparation for the next meeting will greatly increase the quality and effectiveness of its conduct. Talking on topics relevant to the interlocutor means making the conversation interesting for him/her. Thanks to this, he/she will not only enjoy communicating with you but will certainly want to meet you again. Think in advance about what it will be interesting to talk to your counterpart. This may result from interests, hobbies, or related business areas.
Explore the Needs
To render a service to another person is a sure way to count on his/her recognition and reciprocal help. Think before the meeting, about how you can be useful to your interlocutor. Studying the company page or personal accounts on social networks, the “vacancies” section on the site, and blog entries may give you an idea of possible help. Imagine that you come to a meeting and hand over a list of hand-tailoring workshops, having seen the day before that your future partner was interested in this issue on a Facebook page. Even if he/she does not take advantage of your recommendation or help, then your desire to help and diligence will be highly appreciated.