A Guide to Speed Networking

Networking is a professional activity that can be incredibly beneficial, but also one that can start to feel monotonous and repetitive. Speed networking was introduced as an efficient alternative, and has now been adopted by a variety of events because of its range of benefits.

If you’re new to speed networking then the concept might feel daunting; it’s not often that you’re rushed through meeting multiple people in a short space of time. In this article, we aim to shine some light on the topic and explain what speed dating is, as well as sharing the benefits, some useful questions for speed networking, and our top tips to make the most of the experience. 

Speed networking is a networking event format where professional interactions happen in short periods of time, one after the other. Instead of networking conversations happening organically, there will be a timer and announcements to keep attendees on track, ensuring that everyone maximises the number of conversations they have at the event.

The format of a speed networking event might have attendees swapping talking partners in a predetermined way, or might just encourage everyone to move around the room and find someone else to speak with once the time is up. The main purpose of the format is to create as many opportunities as possible for connection by providing a framework which keeps conversations brief and encourages as much mingling as possible.

Many people think of speed networking as business speed dating. Whilst there are obviously no romantic intentions behind this style of networking, the concept of trying to make a good impression quickly and also identify certain people that you’re professionally compatible with, with the intention of forging stronger connections later on.

Whilst it is a fast-paced activity, speed networking can also be a fun way to meet a lot of new people in your industry. The structured nature can also make it easier to have productive conversations in comparison to an unstructured networking event, so as well as being more efficient a speed networking event can also be more accessible if you’re newer to networking.  

Speed networking is just one networking event format that you might come across, so it’s worth understanding the benefits of this particular approach if you’re considering attending an event.

The biggest benefit of speed networking is linked to its format; you get to talk to a lot more people than you would at an unstructured networking event. An issue with traditional networking is that you can get stuck in unproductive conversions out of politeness, or you can struggle to integrate yourself into conversations without seeming rude. Speed networking removes these barriers and helps to maximise the connections you make.

Depending on the amount of time that attendees are given for each conversation, you’ll likely be able to fit at least five, if not more discussions into the event and get to know plenty more people because of the rotating format. The intention isn’t to get stuck into deep conversations, it’s to identify who might be a productive connection to have, introduce yourself and get their contact information, and then follow up with them later on.

Having a structure for networking can remove a lot of barriers that impact how efficient and successful the event can be. Firstly, if a speed networking event uses a system to assign attendees with new people to talk to every time, it takes all of the uncertainty out of trying to find someone to speak to, which gets the conversation flowing faster and can stop nerves or awkwardness impacting interactions.

Secondly, having a short period of time to speak to someone can make the interaction more efficient because you end up cutting to the chase much faster, and don’t waste minutes on small talk. If you’ve got a particular intention in mind when you’re networking, a business speed dating structure can be massively useful. 

In a traditional networking scenario, it’s up to attendees to find people to talk to. This can mean that people gravitate towards more familiar faces, or just that conversations tend to happen between people with more in common.

At a speed networking event, who attendees talk to is usually dictated by a system that makes it easy for people to quickly swap partners, such as changing chairs or following a predetermined list. A massive advantage of this is that it means everyone meets a more diverse range of other people. Not only can it lead to unexpectedly fruitful conversations and create partnerships that may otherwise have never happened, but it also helps to create a more inclusive event that encourages interactions regardless of other factors like role or experience.

The final benefit of speed networking is that it can be a really good opportunity to gain useful networking experience. The regular rotation of people to talk to creates lots of different interactions, and each one of these is likely to bring a different experience that you can learn from based on how you approach the conversation.

This benefit is more relevant to professionals who are newer to networking, but speed networking is particularly useful for those looking to hone their skills and practice speaking to others in their industry. You’re not penned into conversations so you can try different approaches and see what works without worrying about how you’re going to move on. You can also watch a lot of other people networking and learn from them as well, meaning that you’re likely to leave the event with a lot of valuable ideas.

When you’ve only got a short amount of time for conversation, it’s very useful to go into these interactions with questions already prepared. These should be tailored to your goals for the event, and can vary from simple icebreakers to specific questions asking for advice or ideas.

Here are some of our suggestions for the best questions for speed networking.

• What's your passion project right now?
• What's a hobby you picked up during the past year?
• Is there a cause or charity you're particularly passionate about?
• What's a skill you're currently trying to master?
• If you could have coffee with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be?
• What brought you to this event?
• What do you enjoy most about your work?
• What daily or weekly habits have contributed significantly to your success?
• Looking back, is there something you wish you had known or done differently early in your career?
• Are there books, podcasts, or courses you'd recommend for excelling in our industry?
• Who else should I speak with or learn from in our industry?
• What essential skills for success in our field are often overlooked?
• How have mentors influenced your journey, and what qualities make an effective mentor-mentee relationship?
• Based on our conversation, what advice would you give for my professional growth?
• What's the biggest project you're currently working on?
• What's the most challenging and rewarding part of your job?
• What inspired you to pursue this career?
• What are you hoping to take away from this event?
• Have you attended any industry events or conferences recently? Any recommendations?
• Can you recommend any books or resources that have influenced your career?

Whether it’s your first experience with a speed networking activity or you’re very familiar with the format, you want to ensure that you approach the event feeling confident and prepared. Here are seven of our top speed networking tips for a productive session.

Before you attend, it can be really beneficial to research the event to make sure you’re familiar with the format, who it caters to, and what to expect. This is key in being prepared because you can tailor your goals and any questions you want to ask based on specifics.

If you’re attending a new networking event, research can help you decide everything from what to wear to how you’re going to describe your role and experience. If you’re feeling nervous or unprepared, it can provide some clarity about what to expect. If you’re looking to make the best impression possible, it can help you decide how you’re going to get the most out of the event.

Speed networking is meant to be a fun and sociable experience as well as a productive one, so setting goals might not feel necessary if you’re just attending an event to meet more people in your industry. Whether you’ve got particular aims or not, setting an intention is a great way to ensure that you feel motivated during a speed networking activity and know what you need to do to leave with a sense of achievement.

Your intention might be to get the contact details of a certain number of people, or to discuss your latest project and gather opinions on an idea you’ve had. It could be as simple as wanting to leave the event feeling more confident, or you might be searching for a particular type of connection that is going to help you advance your career.

Whatever the intention, make sure to take time thinking about why you’re attending a speed networking event and what you want to get from the experience. When you’re preparing, you should have the intention in mind to influence everything else.

Whilst speed networking has been designed to make conversation more efficient, you should still have an introduction to yourself prepared so that you can start your interactions strongly. This introduction shouldn’t be long, but should concisely summarise your current role, experience and any relevant interests that you want to touch on in your conversations.

Try and condense this introduction into three or four sentences. It might feel strange when you’re by yourself, but you should practise speaking it out loud before the event to tweak anything that sounds strange and also make sure that you sound confident and comfortable when you actually introduce yourself.

Professionalism is essential during any kind of networking activity, but this shouldn’t go too far to the point where you’re not being honest. You want to make a good impression that will benefit your career, but being yourself will also help you to make more genuine connections which will also have a lot of benefits in the long run.

It can be tricky to focus on being authentic when you’re in a fast-paced environment like business speed dating, especially if you’re trying to make a good impression. But don’t exaggerate or oversell yourself - people will appreciate it a lot more if you’re friendly, relaxed and a little less polished but very genuine.

Networking can be a very productive activity, and there’s a lot to be gained from talking to other professionals in your industry and asking for their advice or ideas. It’s important to remember to show gratitude to everyone you talk to when speed networking, as it’s vital for making a good impression.

When you’re speaking to lots of people and moving around, you might reach the end of a conversation and already be thinking about the next. But make sure that you take the time to thank the person you were with, being as specific as possible about what you appreciated. It’s not only good manners, but a great way to make a very memorable and positive impression.

One of the most valuable speed networking tips we can share is to remember to collect contact details at the end of each conversation, if you think that they would be useful. This event format is not designed for long conversations but numerous introductions, and you won’t be able to follow up on any of these if you don’t ask for people’s details!

Adding someone on LinkedIn is very common after a networking event, which you can either do then and there or you can write down their name and add them afterwards. Some people may also use business cards, which is another good move but not necessary when there are digital alternatives.

Our final piece of speed networking advice might seem obvious, but it’s essential to making the most of these events. After you’ve finished, you should make an effort to follow up with as many people as possible to cement the connection you started and ensure that you can get the most from these professional relationships.

If you’re adding people on LinkedIn, you can just follow up with a message, potentially carrying on a conversation that you started, if relevant. If someone’s sent you other contact details, be prompt in following up with them so that you’re still in their head when they hear from you again, as this gives the connection the best chance of developing.

Speed networking might seem like an introvert’s nightmare, but it’s a really effective way to make a lot of professional connections, improve your networking skills, and meet a diverse range of people who might be able to share opinions and ideas that can change the trajectory of your career. The key to success is knowing what to expect and feeling prepared so that you can hit the ground running and leave with plenty of new connections to develop in the future.

For more valuable insight on finding success in the MICE industry and making the most of professional events, take a look at the other articles on our blog. 

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