“What brings you here?’ is my favourite opening question. It doesn’t ask what someone does, but leaves space for that to be the answer. The personal motivation element often garners a more interesting response and leaves space for someone to be more open if they wish.
I also always look for the people pretending to be on their phones. It’s usually a silent scream for help, as they’re often just nervous. These can be the most interesting people in the room, too, with the most to say!”
— Ash Phillips, Founder of Rebellious Co.
Got your own networking hack? Don’t gatekeep it – send us your top tips to hello@startups.co.uk, and you could feature in a future round-up.
