How to Meet with Purpose

 If you are lucky enough to get a face-to-face meeting with a client or potential employer, make sure you make the most of it! I liked this recent article on how to meet with purpose, which offers common sense strategies.

1. Research! Look up the company online (websites, SEC filings, news sites) and people (LinkedIn).
2. Identify common contacts. Reach out to those you know well to get more info about the company/people.
3. Know what you are trying to achieve before the meeting. (Nothing is worse than a meandering meeting.)
4. Frame your questions so you achieve your objectives. Don’t ask questions with easy-to-get answers (What are your products? How did you do last year?). Show you did your homework (I read you are expanding into X. How is that initiative going?).
5. Make sure you connect during the meeting.