Listen, I am not one of those guys who goes to events to engage in the cocktail hour chit-chats. I’m not fond of often repeated phrases, “It so good to see you”. “My man, look at you, what have you been up to? or “how’s the wife and kids?” I usually try to skip the pre-event cocktail hours unless I am specifically there to meet someone.
I do enjoy finding a diverse group of individuals having substantive conversations. Conversations on a variety of thought provoking topics. Rather that, than the surf and turf or rubber chicken dinners. Subject matter experts usually skip the general chatter and move to topics they are passionate about. You get to learn something new, have a friendly debate or get an introduction to a new contact.
We all have something to say, most people don’t know how to say it. Approximately 10-20% of the workforce have the potential to be subject matter experts however, microphone hogs are annoying, motormouths don’t know when to shut up and those who embellish need to be kept in the coat check room.
Subject matter experts I mentor are knowledgeable, fact driven, and most have personalities. There’s money to be made as a SME. Remember, hone your craft , keep learning, talk in layman’s terms and for pete’s sake be concise.