By: Bill Murphy Jr.

If you've ever felt awkward at a meet-and-greet networking event, here's your 10-step strategy for success.

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I've written before about the guy who started swearing within seconds of meeting us at a networking event. Most of us are more professional at events than that, but it's not uncommon to feel uncomfortable--like you've gone back in time to an awkward junior high school dance.

Fortunately, there's a solution. The people who really excel at networking events often follow a similar strategy--one that you can use as well. It allows them to enjoy themselves, make good contacts, and leave feeling as if they've spent their time well spent.

In the Wall Street Journal recently, Sue Shellenbarger interviewed experts and networkers who were trying to improve their performance about their best practices. Here's the plan they described, organized in nine easy steps.

1. Do your homework.

There are two main ways to prepare for these kinds of events. The first is to research who will be there ahead of time, so that you have specific people in mind that you want to meet.

The second is simply to be informed and in the frame of mind to make interesting small talk--whether it's about local issues, business, sports, or maybe a great article you read recently. You want a go-to conversation that won't seem forced.

2. Read the room correctly.

There are a number of things to consider here, but in short, look for groups of people who look like you can contribute positively to their mood.

"A tight circle of three to five people standing face-to-face in a closed O, maintaining eye contact and talking intently, might look intriguing," Shellenbarger writes," but they may be solving a pressing problem, making them too busy to greet someone new."

3. Be helpful.

You know how they say that when it comes to your professional network, you have to make deposits before you can make make withdrawals? That applies to in-person networking events as well. So, take the opportunity to help others by making introductions and sharing information, before you try finding ways to benefit yourself.

4. Be ready to shake hands.

You're there to meet people--not to tie one on or load up on food. So, Shellenbarger advises, it's a good idea to make sure you always have at least one hand free. Sure, have a drink, eat some hors d'oeuvre, but make sure you can carry it all in your left hand.

5. Study body language and eye contact.

People will tell you even without realizing it whether they're open to being approached or interested to talk.

Those "who are genuinely open to new relationships adopt an open stance, shoulders apart and hands at their sides, turning slightly toward newcomers to welcome them," said one of the networking experts, Kelly Decker, of Decker Communications.

6. Focus on quality over quantity.

The person who walks away from a networking event with a fistful of business cards but no meaningful connections has achieved little. It's often better to have a few good conversations that you might actually follow up on, versus a bunch of fleeting introductions that nobody even remembers the next day.

7. Love the one you're with.

When you start talking with someone, you make a short-term commitment to engage in conversation. Don't "look over the shoulder of the person you're talking to in case someone more interesting shows up," Shellenbarger writes.

8. Be humble and authentic.

This one always amazes me--people that try to suck up all the oxygen in the room, in the hope that they'll somehow "win" the game by being the center of attention. A vanity contest like that doesn't benefit anyone. Instead, be smart and confident but modest enough to allow others to have their turn to talk as well.

9. Talk with people who aren't talking to anyone.

Have a little compassion, for one thing--but more than that, recognize that people who are having a hard time striking up a conversation are likely to be even more receptive to your introduction. As Shellbarger puts it, don't assume "anyone standing alone is a loser and should be avoided."

About I.C. Collins

I.C. Collins is grateful that he can pursue something that is both interesting and has value on several levels. For over three decades in the Automotive Sales Industry a bottom-line guy Collins doesn't shy away from telling the truth in ways that cut through the noise to deliver streetwise and corporate knowledge from someone who's been there and done that, many times over.

He aims to create “a long-lasting major brand that for generations is a company that is business-critical to the leading brands in the world. We are focused every day on creating something that’s valuable and has permanence.”

P. S. Urgent if you’re looking to optimize your interpersonal skills for success get your copy of " How to Succeed in the Automotive Sales Industry " today @TechAutoCareers.com. Then settle in for a satisfying read that will surely enhance your interpersonal skills for success this year, it is not just a book we are a service.

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