When networking, don't ask "What do you do?" Ask this instead...

Here’s a tip on how to avoid the worst part of business networking—the elevator pitch

Hello friends!

Here’s a tip on how to avoid the worst part of business networking—the elevator pitch.

As spring conference season is ramping up, here’s a quick tip on how to avoid the worst part of business networking—being constantly pitched at.

👉 Instead of asking someone, “What do you do?”, which often just leads to an elevator pitch, try asking, “Who are you trying to meet?”

This approach works because:

• It reveals the person’s true intentions. Are they focused on connecting or just selling?

• It opens the door to deeper conversation, because you can follow up with if they’ve met the right people yet. You might uncover common ground or mutual connections.

• And if they haven’t, it turns the conversation into a collaborative problem-solving moment—how to help each other make the right connection!

Here are some more great questions to ask:

• “What’s one goal you’re focused on achieving this year?”

• “What’s a project you’re excited about right now?”

• “What’s one resource you’re looking for right now?”

• And, my favorite, “What’s something you’re seeing right now that no one else is talking about?”

This is how you spark genuine conversations that help you learn about each other while avoiding the dreaded elevator pitch.

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