The Fine Art of Networking: One Conversation at a Time

When:  Feb 16, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 01:30 PM (CT)

What You Will Learn 

  • Make the most of meetings, industry conferences and sponsor interactions.
  • Break the ice and maintain conversations with decision makers
  • Overcome communication barriers
  • Turn every interaction into an opportunity for networking success
Summary 

Association executives and their stakeholders learn the technical skills required for career success, often overlooking the importance of conversation, networking, and rapport-building skills. The ability to talk easily with members and potential members is a learned skill, not a personality trait. Acquiring it will establish rapport with colleagues, clients, and referral sources, with peers in the marketplace and liaisons within the community at large, leaving a positive impression that lasts longer than an exchange of business cards. Each program is tailored to the audience.

This fast-paced, informative, and interactive session offers tools to :
• Strike up conversations and keep them going
• Cultivate connections in a virtual world
• Master introductions and remember names
• Come across as composed and self-assured when talking to people or entertaining clients at conventions, trade shows and other work related functions
• Develop rapport with stakeholders and community members
• Become an “active” listener
• Overcome communication barriers
• Handle awkward situations
• Come up with topics to discuss
• Avoid conversation “killers”
• Prepare for successful conversation
• Issue the invitation for referrals and future interaction
• Exit conversations with grace
• Feel more at ease at award receptions, banquets, receptions and networking events

Presenter
Bestselling author, keynote speaker and trainer Debra Fine began her career as an engineer, an occupation that allowed her to maintain her natural shyness and avoid situations that required social and personal interactions. Now a long time member of the National Speakers Association and the Global Speakers Federation, she presents and trains audiences across the globe. Fine designs her presentations and researches her books to teach technically oriented professionals conversation skills and business networking techniques that help in developing business relationships, gaining visibility and building rapport in the workplace. Debra’s bestselling books: The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills—and Leave a Positive Impression (Hachette), The Fine Art of the Big Talk: How to Win Clients, Deliver Great Presentations, and Solve Conflicts at Work (Hachette) have been translated and published in over 2 dozen countries around the world. Just released is Debra's third in the “Fine Art” series: Beyond Texting: The Fine Art of Face-to-Face Communication for Teenagers (Canon).

Please consult our FAQ page. If you're unable to find the answer you need, please call 737-201-2059 (M-F, 8am-6pm CT) or e-mail customer service.

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Message from the 2024 Women's Forum Subcommittee Chair

Caley Mutrie, CAE, IOM

The WSAE Women’s Forum is excited to present its third annual conference: Leading Out Loud. This conference will unite women and allies in the association, nonprofit, and hospitality industries. 

Terry Pearce coined "Leading Out Loud" in his 1995 book Leading Out Loud: Inspiring Change Through Authentic Communications. When we lead out loud, we communicate authentically from the inside out. And that's what the 2024 WSAE Women's Forum is about - bringing our authentic selves together for a day of sharing, listening, learning from each other's wisdom and experience, and creating genuine connections. 

When we lead out loud, we use our voices to create opportunities and shift perspectives. When we speak up and take risks, we free ourselves of limiting societal norms and the roles we've absorbed throughout our lives and careers from gender stereotyping. As aspiring and seasoned leaders alike, it is our responsibility to ourselves and each other to stop downplaying our experiences and opinions and support and inspire each other to find and raise our voices. 

Building on the success and learnings of the 2022 and 2023 Women's Forums, this year's Forum will focus on leadership and career development, expanding our influence as leaders in our communities, becoming more assertive in our communications, leveraging the mentor/mentee relationship for personal and organizational benefit, learning from each other how to handle complex and challenging situations that confront us in our professional lives every day, and the importance of wellness, managing stress and caring for ourselves.

This year's Women's Forum will create space for consequential discussions, motivating us to tap into our unique inner voices and raise them for personal and collective benefit in the workplace, our homes, our communities, and our hearts and minds. This year's program is a day-long conversation between our presenters, facilitators, and you. So, ask your questions and share your experiences and successes as we inspire each other to raise our voices and lead out loud. 

Don't wait! Please register today and plan to join us for what will be an engaging and much-anticipated program!