Essential Networking: Connecting New York Style

I have now been networking in New York for one month and it is has been an inspiring and electrifying experience, which I am eager to share. My first few days in the Big Apple involved finding my feet and learning how to get from A to B on the famous NYC subway.
 
At first glance, the subway map looks like spaghetti bolognese with more spaghetti (the subway lines!) than bolognese. I admit that in this my first week, I have made a couple of errors by changing at the wrong stations and have had to retrace my steps. In the back of my mind, I wondered if everyone noticed that I was a tourist.
 
The aims of networking will always be the same in any city but the way delegates interact and how they achieve their goals will vary immensely depending on the culture of the city concerned. New York is a thriving, bustling metropolis similar to London and there is an event to attend every day of the week. 
 
However, I have already observed some differences in New York networking compared to that of London. It is clear to me that both cities understand the value of connecting but I’ve found that New Yorkers are very time poor and their grasp of how often to network seems to be a stumbling block. 
New Yorkers do not hesitate to share the fact that, due to time constraints, they do not network as often as they should. Choosing the right networking event to attend, therefore, is crucial due to the high pressure to make quality connections as quickly as possible within the available time frame.
 
The length of networking events in New York is far shorter than those in London. At home they tend to run for up to four hours, often starting at 6pm and finishing at 9pm or 10pm. In New York they commonly run for only a couple of hours and normally from 6pm to 8pm or 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Two hours seems perfect for New Yorkers as it suits their busy lifestyles.
 
Networking conversations in New York are also very direct and straight to the point. There is a feeling that time is money and therefore not be wasted. It’s no secret that New Yorkers know what they want to achieve before they even enter the networking room. This is a joy to discover because during my training sessions, I constantly stress the importance of having networking goals if you want to be successful. 
 
Business communication also has a correspondingly fast-paced style and the preference is not to make phone calls. First choices for communication are email and SMS texting. Interestingly one delegate at a networking event even told me that making phone calls can often be considered “stalking”.
 
It has also been amazing to experience that during the close of conversations it is much more common in New York than in London for networkers to save time by whipping out their mobile phones and storing new contact details there and then without batting an eyelid. It is also the standard, unlike in the UK, to take the last names as well as the first names of delegates when saving their contact details.
 
During my training sessions I help delegates to develop the skill of combining networking conversations to include both social and business questions in their exchanges. It is advantageous to have this balance because it shows that you are human and helps you build a stronger relationship faster. 
 
In New York there is a special path to tread mixing business and social conversations and it is paved with tactical motives. Should you network there and experience conversations moving to a more relaxed, social level, be encouraged as this is an indication that your business impressions have been perceived positively and you are on a winning road.
 
Bella Rareworld is a Corporate Networking Strategist for BellaNetworking Ltd.  For more information about her international research trip email [email protected] 
BellaNetworking Ltd offers strategic networking training and consultancy for international clients by sourcing bespoke lists of networking events to attend whilst on business in the UK. Bella has 60+ testimonials on Linkedin at http://www.linkedin.com/in/rareworld. Get more networking tips on Twitter & Facebook:http://www.twitter.com/BellaNetworking -http://www.facebook.com/BellaNetworking