Most entrepreneurs want to build a supportive community of fellow entrepreneurs. But it can feel cringey trying to schedule coffee so that you can talk about... well... yourself.

Do 1:1 Follow ups at business networking events feel shallow to you?

Because of this, man people never build lasting relationships with others after attending a business networking event.

However, there is a way for you to have authentic, meaningful follow-ups without coming off as pushy or salesy. Best of all, these types of conversations can result in strategic partnerships and future referrals.

In this Guide, we'll share five ways to book a successful 1:1 follow up so that others find you a valuable asset and you grow your network of powerful partnerships. So let's get started!

1:1 Follow ups are not chores or even benign tasks. So don't ask someone to coffee with a passive attitude. Be cheerful, smile, and "invite" them to grab coffee with you.

Initiate a Friendly Invitation

Start with people you've already connected with at your networking group. Tell them: "I'm sorry we didn't get to talk more, but I'd love to hear more about what you do." Put the emphasis on them, not you. Avoid saying "I'd love to share more about what I do" or "I think I could be a valuable asset to your company."

The goal of this conversation is not to sell yourself to them. It's about hearing more about their business and seeing if you could both partner together down the road. Be sincere and ask them: "Do you want to grab coffee some time next week?" Avoid open ended questions that feel dominant, such as "When would you like to get coffee to talk more?" Open-ended questions are good for closing sales conversations. But this is not a sales conversation. Yes/No question have a more invitational feel. Plus, no one has ever told me "No, I don't want to get coffee with you."

You need to become good at asking curious questions. Be interested in the other person. The most powerful curious, interesting question you can start with focuses on the person's story.

Start with their Story

Your goal is to understand the person's experiences, life lessons, important seasons and anything else they want to share that influenced their desire to start a business. Some great story questions include:

"How did you get started in this field?"

"What led you to start doing what you do today?"

"Tell me what inspired you to choose this professional path."

I personally will never ever partner with someone or even refer them if I don't know something about their story. Even if they have a thousand 5 star reviews.

That might sound harsh, but a person's story directly influences why they started their business. It helps you gain insight on what drives them in their business, what lessons they've learned in life and how they view their product or service.

Learning someone's story not only makes them feel heard and appreciated. It helps build that first layer of trust between you two in the relationship.

You need to become good at asking curious questions. Be interested in the other person. The most powerful curious, interesting question you can start with focuses on the person's story.

Learn why they Love their Work

Your goal is to understand the person's experiences, life lessons, important seasons and anything else they want to share that influenced their desire to start a business. Some great story questions include:

"How did you get started in this field?"

"What led you to start doing what you do today?"

"Tell me what inspired you to choose this professional path."

I personally will never ever partner with someone or even refer them if I don't know something about their story. Even if they have a thousand 5 star reviews.

That might sound harsh, but a person's story directly influences why they started their business. It helps you gain insight on what drives them in their business, what lessons they've learned in life and how they view their product or service.

Learning someone's story not only makes them feel heard and appreciated. It helps build that first layer of trust between you two in the relationship.

Dream. Plan. Results

What breakthrough are you needing in your life?

Whether it's your career, finances, health, relationships or something else, life coaching can help you dream of where you want to be, plan action steps and see the results you're looking for.