The Transferable Skills of Networking & Flirting

It’s Friday night after a long week at work or school and you head to the bar with a couple friends to unwind. Yep, you’re single. You’ve been too busy focusing on project deadlines and reaching targets, that your love life has been pushed aside. You walk up to the bar, order yourself a beverage and bump into an interesting person beside you. You make casual conversation and begin to build a connection with that person.

Surprisingly, networking and flirting share a number of similarities.

1) It takes confidence to network or to flirt.

The hardest thing for either of the two is initiating conversation. The biggest mistake is to not make the first move. Whether it’s a casual setting or a professional environment, take the initiative to introduce yourself. It both scenarios it proves you are a self-starter and self-reliant, qualities both valuable to the workforce and relationships.

2) Talk about them. It’s the topic they know most about.

When at a loss for what to say, ask them casual questions about themselves. If the conversation is genuine and comfortable, they’ll be willing to share just about anything. Keep the tone of the conversation light and positive.

For example, in a professional setting ask them their occupation. A fun follow-up question would be what it was they wanted to be

when growing up.

To translate this tactic into the world of flirting, ask them entertaining questions like what Disney character they’ve always wanted to be, or how they tie their shoelaces… with the bunny ears or through-the-loop?

3) Finish off with getting their contact information.

Whether it be flirting or networking, a good conversation and connection should always be followed up with exchanging contact information. In both scenarios, asking for their business card would be appropriate way to proceed along with offering them yours.

Personally, if you’re looking for love, I would suggest giving them your personal number as well. The business card exchange is merely to prove you have a career and not just a 9-5 job.

Follow-up with your new contact in both scenarios to be able to build a relationship based on your first impression.

Although the skills of networking and flirting share similarities, I would never recommend flirting your way into the corner office. Both flirting and networking hold one key factor a priority: Respect.

What other skills or tactics do you think prove valuable to both flirting and networking? Tweet your response to @brandon_sousa or comment below.