How to Gain the Attention of a VIP
How do you impress a VIP who doesn’t know you from a hole in the wall? The Public Speaker offers 8 tips to help you network more effectively and get noticed.
In my networking workshops I am frequently asked: “Lisa, how do I gain the attention of a very important person (VIP) in my field – particularly someone I’ve never met?”
Many people are interested in upgrading their network, in fact, it’s imperative to success. However, getting to know a more senior or well-known colleague in your field isn’t always easy to do. In this episode I’ll share some ideas on how to gain the attention of and make a positive impression on someone you know and respect, but who may not know you.
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In your professional and private life, there are probably people you look up to and admire. They may be experts in your field, your favorite authors, or respected podcasters. You might think you’ll never get a chance to meet them, but in today’s landscape of online networking, it’s definitely possible and for some folks it’s an important part of their career progression.
Here are 8 tips for gaining the attention of a VIP and making a good impression:
Tip #1: Neighbor Networking
Impress one the VIP’s trusted advisors. Every VIP has people around them that support them. The VIP trusts those people and is in regular communication with them. Find out whom the VIP trusts and associates with, then become a fan of those people. Think of it as one level removed. It’s much more likely you’ll be able to gain access to these folks than to the VIP. And if you can’t interact on a personal level with the support people, do some research on them, and show your enthusiasm for your shared interests.
Tip #2: Knowledge Networking
Support the VIP’s online community with thoughtful responses to comments/tweets/posts. Be sure to contribute something useful and of substance, not just fluff. You can post your own questions or you can respond to the questions of the other community members. Your goal is to help the VIP reach their goal of supporting their community with resources and knowledge.
Tip #3: Community Networking
Promote the VIP’s work by recommending it to your colleagues and followers. For example, re-tweet or share their ideas. Send copies of their work to your customers and colleagues. If appropriate, send a client their way (be sure to let them know you recommended them). Finally, support causes that are important to them. Even if you only make a small contribution, they will know you participated and got involved.
Tip #4: Interview/Q&A Networking
Interview the person after doing in-depth preparation. Ask insightful questions that show you are interested in their work and knowledgeable about their profession. Interviews can be a great way to have a focused professional conversation and they also give you an opportunity to engage in a peer-to-peer conversation. A well-done interview can significantly increase your visibility.
A word of caution: Mess up an interview by being unprepared and wasgting the VIP’s time and you’ve damaged your chances of developing your professional relationship further.
Tip #5: Provocative Networking
Make a suggestion for Improvement or offer an unusual idea to help them reach their goals. Be sure to ask first if they are interested in receiveing your feedback and then be sure that your idea is well-founded. This can be a risky move with the potential to backfire, so be very careful. However, if you respectfully make a suggestion at the VIP’s request or at least with their permission, you are going to make an impression. If the VIP is open and the idea is incredibly insightful, you will make a strong positive impression. Again, this is a risky approach, but if done properly can be one of the best ways to create a new professional relationship.
Tip #6: Flattery Networking
Give sincere, authentic peer-to-peer flattery (just be careful not to “suck-up”). Focus on the person’s work, ideas, or products instead of general personal flattery. Be specific! “I like that thing you did” won’t cut it. Instead, try, “I was really impressed with the energy you demonstrated in your fundraiser video. People will want to donate simply because you are so enthusiastic about the possibilities of the project. Very impressive.” If you truly and authentically respect this person, the only thing you need to do is remember to explicitly share that with the VIP. Everyone enjoys having their hard work noticed and appreciated.
Tip #7: Value Networking
Have an understanding of what that person’s current challenges are, and provide value to help meet those challenges. Understand their business. Offer to go the extra mile, take on some of their responsibilities, help them, and anticipate what they might need. Ask, “What can I do to help?” Then, follow up with a plan or inform them of the result of your taking action.
For example, when I interview well-known authors for my Smart Talk podcast, I make sure to leave a positive review for the author’s book on Amazon or, if it’s a popular podcast host, I’ll leave an iTunes review. I then forward the review to the person. These are just first steps. Think to yourself: If I were in his shoes, what would I appreciate?
And now, my favorite tip…
Tip #8: “Be the Best You Can Be” Networking
Don’t bother trying to impress someone else! What I mean is, always work to the best of your ability. Impress yourself. Always do what you can to be your best self—in business, in your relationships, and in your communication. To learn more about making the best of professional relationships and opportunities, read my book Smart talk: The Public Speaker’s Guide to Success in Every Situation. It has tons of tips on how to make the most of your communication and reach your goals.
Of course, all of the different types of networking I described above require outstanding communication skills. Try to keep these 5 quick and dirty tips in mind when meeting a VIP (or really anyone) in person:
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Look the person in the eye and smile sincerely. Don’t forget to introduce yourself, even if you’ve met before. You’ll save the other person the embarrassment of trying to remember your name if they’ve forgotten it.
See also: How to Make Better Introductions and Remember Names (Part 1 and Part 2)
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If you make a promise to take action, follow up and do what you say you’re going to do. Send that person an email letting them know you are serious about doing what you promised.
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Treat the VIP with respect. Express gratitude and be polite, but don’t grovel. Keep in mind that they weren’t always a VIP. Don’t forget to thank that person for taking time to communicate with you.
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Remember details (such as family, projects, concerns) about the VIP. Mention a project they’ve worked on and ask them what they are currently doing.
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Put the VIP first while speaking with them. Focus on them. Don’t check your watch or cell phone when they are speaking to you. Never answer your phone or send text messages when you are talking to someone else–especially a VIP.
No matter what field you’re in, you’re likely a fan of someone and wanting to meet and impress that person is only natural. If you follow these tips, you’ll find out that most everyone is approachable, So get out there and start expanding your network by establishing new working relationships with VIPs!
This is Lisa B. Marshall, Helping you maximize sales, manage perceptions, and enhance leadership through keynotes, workshops, books, and online courses. Passionate about communication; your success is my business.Do you struggle with difficult conversations? Do you procrastinate when it comes to delivering feedback? Do you know how to effectively persuade and influence others? Learn this and more in my book, Smart Talk: The Public Speaker’s Guide to Success in Every Situation. Get your personally signed copy today!
VIP image courtesy of Shutterstock.
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About the Author
Lisa B. Marshall Lisa holds masters with duel degrees in interpersonal/intercultural communication and organizational communication. She’s the author of Smart Talk: The Public Speaker’s Guide to Success in Every Situation, as well as Ace Your Interview, Powerful Presenter, and Expert Presenter. Her work has been featured in CBS Money Watch, Ragan.com, Woman’s Day, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and many others. Her institutional clients include Johns Hopkins Medicine, Harvard University, NY Academy of Science, University of Pennsylvania, Genentech, and Roche.
