I attend a variety of networking events and marvel and the basic and banal mistakes I see would-be networkers making. It's enough to make me want to write an article!Networking is about meeting new people, letting them meet you, and prospecting for jobs, contracts, clients and more. Effective networking expands your circle of contacts, and by extension, your sphere of influence. Ineffective networking tires you out and discourages you by its lack of productivity. Worse yet, on occasion, you can actually leave a bad impression with strangers. Beware the following networking mistakes.

Bad networkers mumble.A mumble is a speaking stumble, people mumble their name, their occupation and their titles all the time. Your name is irrelevant if we can't hear it. You've been saying your name all your life so you may be bored with it, yet we may only hear it once. State your name clearly, slowly and in a way can repeat and remember it. It's your lifeline to contact. Take care in stating it.

Poor networkers don't emphasize the benefits, but the features of what they do. Too many job seekers focus on the features of their work instead of the end-results. Employers buy benefits, solutions and outcomes. Speak their language by focusing on what you can do for them, not how you do it. Example: project managers help companies save time and money (two benefits/outcomes) through expertly managing projects and people (features).

Monotonal delivery.vIf you can't convey your qualifications, passion and employability in 30 seconds you may not get 30 minutes in an interview. Use vocal variety, intonation and enthusiasm to speak confidently about yourself, others. (Toastmasters www.toastmasters.org can help you improve your conversational voice.)

Shpiel too long. Networking is not speechmaking. You have a finite window of opportunity to introduce yourself and glean a few details about the person you're talking to. You can't recite your resume, tell your life story or otherwise drone on. Keep it short and sweet!

Unfocused conversation. Networking is a chance to demonstrate focus, drive and confidence. Aimless rambling is pointless, and suggests you're not a focused professional. Showcase your communication skills by expressing yourself succinctly and ask precise questions.

Leakage. Is there is an inconsistency between what you say and what you do? Your card may say one thing about you, your clothing suggests something else and the language and vocabulary you use further confounds strangers in getting a fix on who you are, what you are about and your skill level. Strive to send consistent messages verbally, non-verbally and in your materials and correspondence. When everything works together the sum is greater than its parts.

You don't mind your manners. Networkers can't make small talk, don't show an ability to exchange pleasantries, and interrupt others. Can you gracefully engage and disengage from conversations? Are your questions intrusive and your answers curt? Are you showing proper respect for the stranger you've just met? Or are you singing Opera? If so, your tune is familiar: It's "Me-Me-Me-Me-Me!"

Slinging Slang. Many networkers profess to have excellent communication skills yet use slang or mispronounce big words when little words are better. Beware the use of contractions, excessive acronyms and name-dropping too. Don't tell us what you're gonna do! I would like to hear what you are going to do instead.

Disrespect the Tao of Networking. Networkers who are obsequious to those they believe can help them, yet rude to those they believe can't help them, disrespect networking. I've had networkers disparage the last person they met while conversation with me. I was afraid to let them go for fear of what they would next say about me! That's antithetical to the spirit of networking. One networker took my card and, in front of me, wrote the letter A on it, and boasted he was "putting me in his A list." Let's just say he was clearly the biggest A I met that night!

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Networking From A to Z

Arrive early for best results

Be a good listener

Clearly enunciate (your name, your words, your sentences…)

Don’t interrupt

Exude confidence in your communication and how you carry yourself

Focus on your conversational partner (not those around him or her)

Gather information about your conversational partner

Help your listener remember you by what you say and how you say it

Inquire about them

Jump-start conversations with questions, compliments or provocative statements

Know how you can best help others

Listen actively (through the use of using gestures, facial expressions, body language)

Make and keep eye contact

Never stare or crowd your conversational party…respect their personal space.

Open-ended questions generate valuable insights

Presentation skills matter!

Questions keep your dialog going. When it stalls, ask more.

Respect others’ time by being focused.

Study non-verbal cues of your listener: do they agree, care, understand?

Think before you speak.

Uncover their needs, pain, problems that you can solve.

Value their time by not monopolizing it.

Write a thank-you note or e-mail to follow up with strangers you meet.

X is a variable whose value is unknown. Get to know others to appreciate their true value.

You are unique. Showcase your uniqueness through your style, what you say and do.

Zzzzzz. What they’ll do if you can’t keep ‘em awake with mutually beneficial conversation!