Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency, reflects on the recovery of events and networking over the past year.
Now that events are well and truly back in the room, I thought I’d review how it has been going within the industry over the past eleven months as we approach the year milestone since their official return on July 19th. In particular – my specialism; the world of business networking, given we have all had a chance to settle back into the face-to-face routine of approaching strangers for light conversation and a chance to relationship build…
Luckily for me, my business network RSViP managed to bounce right back to business and September 2021 saw us launch our ‘come back’ event, where we were delighted to welcome one hundred and fifty guests through the door – quite an accomplishment given it was our first in eighteen months, but this told me that a lot of folk were itching to get back to it and the feedback did not disagree, with many stating that they have missed ‘human interaction’ and the ’experience’ you get from the events that you don’t get over Zoom or other video platforms.
Fast forward almost a year and not much has changed since last September for us. Our focus has been on rebuilding what was on pause for so long and it’s going in the right direction with several new members joining each week. We are still checking in an average of one hundred business professionals per month to our events and the hospitality industry has woken from its slumber and more than ever we are taking phone calls from venues wanting to collaborate and host with us. It is a positive time for the events industry as a whole, because well – quite frankly – we are back.
The general feeling I get out there is that collaboration is also key more so than ever as companies are entering into strategic partnerships, hospitality venues are working with each other rather than against and my inbox is starting to fill with invitations to launches, relaunches and black-tie dinners again – it’s a hard life!
On a more human level, I am seeing more kindness and consideration, more understanding and patience amongst the business community. The enforced slower pace of life has definitely continued in the mindsets of many including my own and the hybrid remote working and four day working week strategy seems to be on the increase.
From a business networking perspective, LinkedIn has blown up and now it’s a case of ‘if you don’t post your whereabouts on LinkedIn, did it really happen?’ We are getting back-stage tours into everyone’s working lives – a behind the scenes preview of meetings, events and day to day activity and it’s actually quite fascinating – why? Well because we are pretty nosy and curious mammals who thrive off others for ideas, motivation and inspiration – even if we don’t realise it. It’s a clever case of subliminal marketing – which is why the influence culture is doing so well – a window into the world of anyone you aspire to be like is a sure-fire way to organically encourage personal growth and solidify your purpose – and everyone needs one of those.
This is why business networking is so powerful, the simple engagement of conversation with someone could open up a whole manner of possibilities – in fact I quote one of the members of my network who recently posted on her LinkedIn (!) following her attendance at one of my events: “What can I say? Another amazing night – this is what networking should be and feel like. I was in the company of lovely, like-minded people and I have made so many useful connections as well as friends who I look forward to working with going forward – networking really can change your life!”
And on that note, I’m off to an event…
Fiona Duncan-Steer – www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk www.fionaduncansteer.com
