How to do Business 'Speed-Dating'

Had just ended the Day 1 of StoryDrive Asia - The Singapore Publishing Symposium at the Arts House. A good event to learn and to rub shoulders with top experts in the industry. One of the session the organiser conducted was the 'speed-dating' where we had chance to meet with potential partners.

Speed-dating is a very good platform for you to widen your network. Here is a 5-Step Business Speed-Dating tips you can apply at this platform (when you are facing 1-to-1):

Step 1: Pre-Identify what are your goals (for my case; my top 3 goals would be: (1) to find potential distributors partners, (2) to find potential event/conference planners (so I can work with for future speaking engagements), (3) any other business opportunities that could help bring my business to the next level

Step 2: Introduce yourself (prepare your 30 sec elevator pitch). This is where you exchange namecards.

Step 3: Offer your help to the other person first. eg " How can I help you meeting your goals/ objectives". If you are not able to meet their objectives, probably you know of someone who could. So, it's still useful.

Step 4: After listening their needs, now it's your turn to share with him/ her your needs/ objectives.

Step 5: Conclude your conversation, and thank the other person. And remember to drop a follow-up email within 24-48 hours.

Hazriq Idrus
Author,  The Stage Fright Antidote!
Founder, The Speaking Factory Pte Ltd

~ Hazriq Idrus is a Business Creativity and Speaking Strategist.  He is the author of "The Stage Fright Antidote and co-authored two other books.  Hazriq founded The Speaking Factory Pte Ltd with a mission to empower professionals maximise their potentials, performance & productivity at the workplace through his signature high-energy, transformational theatre-based & experiential corporate training programmes.