MLA London are please to be able to offer the sector the opportunity to attend the following course:

How to be a confident and effective networker

a networking course for the museums, libraries, and archives sector

Date/Time: Friday 20^th March 2009 09:30 – 16:30

Venue: MLA London Offices, 53-56 Great Sutton Street, London EC1V 0DG

Cost: £50 per delegate

Places: 10 sector places, 10 MLA London places

In our sector we meet a variety of people and stakeholders at events, meetings, conferences, and exhibitions.  We are always been told these are excellent opportunities to ‘network’ but not everyone is a born ‘networker’.  This course is designed to help us overcome our fears and make us better and more effective networkers.

MLA London have commissioned Kintish to deliver a one day training course on how to become a confident and effective networker for their staff and for members of the sector.  If you want to learn how to work the room and be a confident networker at a variety of events, then why don’t you join us?  The aim to take the dread out of networking, and make it fun.

By the end of the say, delegates will:

Be familiar with all the basics & principles of networking Gain lots of additional tips and ideas to help you develop new working partnerships and network better internally

• Be able to work any room with increased self confidence ensuring you leave with those all important contacts and information

• Have an increased awareness of how you can influence your standing and profile in the sector and within the organisation you work

• Understand what it takes to be a great networker

• Feel comfortable following up contacts after the event and help establish new partnerships

The day will be split into a three sessions.

v How to network

· Our networking fears & concerns

· Understanding what networking is and what it isn’t

· Creating positive and memorable first impressions

· Appreciating the roles and responsibilities when representing your organisation

· Clarifying the skills and traits of confident and effective networkers

· The No.1 principle of building relationships

· The many important reasons to attend work related events

· The 8 step networking process

· Which events to attend & dealing with invitations

· Planning and preparing for the event

v Working the room

· Breaking the ice

· Being in command and control of your environment

· Understanding the various format of groups

· How to deal with rude people

· Asking the right questions

· Small talk; business talk

· Asking questions about existing advisors and suppliers

· Answering the question “What do you do?”

· The etiquette of business cards

· The start of the follow up process

· Gaining commitment to move the relationship forward

v How to follow up opportunities in a confident and professional manner

Building relationships is vital in all aspects of work, from fundraising through to community engagement.  This part of the day aims to help you follow up on the networking opportunities you’ve created and establish longer lasting and effective relationships with people and organisations you have meet.

The session will cover:

· Acknowledging our fear and concerns of picking up the phone and how to overcome these

· The consequences of not following up

· What to do straight after an event

· Preparing and planning for a follow up call

· Anticipating the 4 scenarios when picking up the phone

· Script what to say if there is no contact

· Leaving important messages on the answer phone

· How to manoeuvre around gatekeepers

· Planning your script to the prospect

· Dealing with the 6 possible responses

To book a place on this course please download a booking form from our website by clicking here, and return it to [log in to unmask].  Alternatively call 020 7549 1712 to request a booking form.

MLA has partly funded this course to price the price down to £50 per delegate.  We believe that it would a valuable course for members of the sector and for MLA London staff to attend.