We don’t know about you but we’ve been longing for interaction with others for so long. Not necessarily in a formal fashion at conferences and board meetings, but in a way that feels authentic and comfortable.
People have become much more openminded and creative when it comes to engaging with others. We’ve seen an influx in ‘netwalking’ (combines walk and talk to forge business and community connections) and business breakfasts.
These have proven to be a great way to unlock the potential of a conversation with likeminded people.
The truth is, that informal coffee meetings can sometimes prove the most consequential of your career. Don’t be deceived by their casualness.
Coffee chats give you an opportunity to talk about all things business with someone who truly understands. Your family and friends try to be supportive of you, but very often, they don’t really understand what you do, how you do it, or why it can be so hard sometimes.
An impromptu chat can have a significant impact on your collaboration opportunities. Typically, beautiful partnerships rise from creative conversations, discovering how you can complement one another’s business.
These conversations should have a purpose, a reason.
Maybe you want to learn more about a specific role, area or industry.
Or you know the person is working on an interesting project and you want to know more about it. By ‘projects’, we mean, speaking at an event, or podcast they talked at, or an article they had written, etc.
Or you can simply sit back, listen to their future plans and cheer them on. Provide feedback without any hidden agenda. It’s not necessarily about us all the time, it’s about nurturing a healthy debate.
“As the world becomes a more digital place, we cannot forget about the human connection.” – Adam Neumann
A simple ‘Thank You’ goes a long way, yet somehow not everybody follows up on an informal meeting. Just a short follow-up email can work wonders for establishing a newly formed relationship. Send them updates, helpful articles, ask them how are they progressing with their latest projects.
The power of a coffee is far more than the instant kick of an espresso, latte or cappuccino. It is the quality of results discussed and attained during the meeting that simply cannot be replaced by a boardroom or other formal meetings.
