Networking Luncheon

I attended a BYU Management Society luncheon this week where David Bradford was presenting. The subject that he presented on happened to be - wait for it - NETWORKING! So I attended a networking event where we talked about how to effectively network. Double-whammy. It was great because I feel like networking is an area that I am weak in. I understand the importance of networking, but I have never really put very much effort into it. I typically tend to put my money on my own ability to excel in the work environment. However, this event was a good wake-up call to remind me that I need to be putting forth the effort to network now because in the future it may make all the difference.

The meeting started off with a buffet style lunch. I had the opportunity to meet several successful business men in various fields. I enjoyed talking with them about their experiences in school and their early careers and comparing their experiences to my own. Before David Bradford was introduced, the audience was asked to participate in a networking activity where we were to talk about an impressionable interview experience we have had with the other people at the table. There were some fantastic stories of blunders and successes while interviewing. It was a great opportunity to get to know the other people at the table. 

When David Bradford finally took the stage, I began to critique his presentation as we have done in class. I noted several pros and several cons. 

Pros

• He was an energetic speaker and he came across as very friendly. 
• He effortlessly connected with the audience as if he were speaking to each person individually. 
• He established credibility for the subject matter by using effective story telling to convey his experiences in an interesting way.
• He involved the audience and used those interactions to emphasize his points.

Cons

• He frequently stood in front of the overhead, which blocked the slide he was talking about. 
• He frequently looked at his laptop during the presentation.
• He had a definite home-base (clasped hands) that he returned to consistently. 

Overall, I thought the presentation was very well done, and the advice that David gave was fantastic. The luncheon was a great experience and I may even go to more of these types of things in the future!