Gone are the days of networking being just about pints and mixers.
A year ago, if at an industry congress/event/networking gig, someone suggested we all get up at 7am for a morning run before the day begins, I would have laughed as I took another rum & coke from the bar and chortled with fellow networkers about what a laughable idea that was.
Times are a changing.
Don’t get me wrong, I did chortle with fellow colleagues in the early hours that it sounded like a bad idea…but this time, I did both.
I had slightly different motivation to just the networking aspect of it all. With my triathlon training in full swing (kind of) I have to keep up my training wherever I am in the world. This morning, the morning after a late night the night before, I donned my running shoes.
If you know me, you’ll know I’m pretty sociable and love to catch up with colleagues, clients, competitors or pretty much anyone that likes to have fun at any event anywhere in the world. Here I am at #ufilive in Basel at the launch of their first #ufirunclub and I thought I’d give it a go.
Late night networking is always great. You get past the sales pitches and just have fun with people. You get to know them. What they’re into. What makes them tick. You build great relationships that you pick up anywhere you meet them in the globe again.
But a run club? Aside from the cool free stuff (thank you Infosalons for sponsoring the great running vests), everyone was in great spirits as we set off from the hotel, heading for the Rhine.
I’m not going to bore you with the details of the amazing architecture, or the excellent tour guide (it’s great to have local delegates with a bit of insight) who was sharing some pretty great stories about this amazing city, but taking part in this early morning activity, you got to be part of something special. Not just being one of the first 25 of the inaugural Ufi Running Club, but you had a chance to chat with people that maybe you wouldn’t normally speak to throughout a busy conference. What an ice breaker.
My point?
Not everyone is comfortable networking in busy bars or packed venues. Some people are fantastic at one 2 one talking, but as soon as a group of peers turns up, they clam up. So maybe this will be a trend going forward. Maybe it’s an alternative way to start a running /swimming / cycling / walking / pogo sticking club at any future industry events as an alternative way to break the ice and build relationships that go beyond the pint glasses. Wouldn’t that be nice.
In this digital world (something being spoken about here later at #ufibasel) events are still very much about the face 2 face and this new fun run from UFI gave people an opportunity to chat in a different environment. Let people break free from their tech or their conference seats or their suits and get your audience out doing something different, which we at N200|GES love to do. #doingthingsdifferently
So #ufirunclub gets my vote.
Hope to see you at the next one (though there is a bigger party night tonight…so we’ll see if we make it in the morning…).
