3 ways to Continue the Conversation:

1. Connect on Social Media. Connect with the women you met on social media. From the stack of business cards you collected, find these women on LinkedIn, Facebook and/or twitter. Connect, friend and/or follow them. Using any one of these social media platforms is an excellent way to continue the conversation.
2. Grab coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks. Follow up with the women you met and invite them to coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks. Getting together one-on-one is a great way to get to know someone. This gives you an opportunity to talk more about business or simply just make a new friend.
3. Create a Networking Group. After last year’s May Forum10 Martha Mackres organized a Monday Morning Mavens group. Martha invited everyone she met at the May Forum to coffee to continue the conversations that were started at the event. The group continues to meet monthly, sharing their experiences and ideas while building lasting relationships.



I always feel guilty when I leave for a conference – is it going to be worth the expense and the time away from the office? Should I really be spending time and money “working on the business” when there are so many other pressing concerns in my inbox?



I recently attend the Inc Magazine’s GrowCo 2011 Conference in Las Vegas with the usual worries running through my head. However, as I sat in our conference room after I returned, surrounded by my team engaged in lively discussion about customer service and company culture, I realized the worrying was the true waste of time.



The next time you question whether or not a conference is worth it, ask yourself four questions:

1. Will the office really fall apart without you?
2. Is your company where you want it to be?
3. Is there anything left for you to learn?
4. Is there anyone left for you know?



A stagnant company is a dead company – don’t let your worry about missing something at the office keep you from being inspired by the people and ideas we encounter at conferences like GrowCo or the WXW May Forum.

1. Introduce and initiate. Go ahead and initiate with a hello! Even if you recognize, or slightly know someone, re-introduce yourself. By taking ownership and initiating a conversation, you will feel more in control to drive the direction of the exchange.




2. Use an icebreaker. An icebreaker not only provides a way to meet new people, but also helps jumpstart conversations. For example, using an icebreaker such as “Tell me about the type of work your firm is involved in” instead of simply saying “hello” can lead to a fruitful conversation, rather than an uncomfortable silence. Some other valuable icebreakers you might use are:

- “Bring me up to date on your latest project.”
   - “What do you find to be the most enjoyable aspect of your job?”
   - “Tell me about your history with ________.”
   - “How did you come to find yourself in the health care field?”




3. Express interest and make an effort. You have to be interested if you want to be interesting. Part of your job as a convers-ee is to get the other person to talk. Listen to what your conversational partner is saying and ask relevant follow-up questions. Take cues from them and make a mental list of questions you can ask to get them to elaborate. If you’re talking to Mary in the marketing department, ask what she’s working on, what the new marketing strategies are. This is a great way to brainstorm about future projects, find out about potential clients or build a lasting business relationship. That being said, be sure not to ask so many questions that you come off as an interrogator. There should be a flow and balance when communicating.




4. Overcome pregnant pauses. It’s up to you to keep the conversation going if there are some uncomfortable pauses. Use your setting for ideas to reinvigorate the discussion. Say, “It’s great having our sales conference in a warm, tropical place. Have you been to Mexico before?” Use pauses as an opportunity to compliment your international counterpart. Try, “I’m impressed with what you’re doing for our Asian business. You’ve made some huge improvements in our technology department over there.” This is also a great time to interject with any material you’ve previously prepared.




5. Establish personal boundaries. It is fine if you want to let someone know where you went to college or how many children you have, but be mindful of how much personal information you provide. Sure, your relationship could benefit if you find out both your husbands are attorneys, but evaluate the value of the subject matter and its impact on the rapport. If the dialogue gets too sidetracked into personal details, the business-networking angle can become lost. Revealing too many personal details in a business setting can be inappropriate. Use your best judgment to maximize the content of the conversation.




6. Exit thoughtfully. In many business situations, it’s important to make contact with several people and move around a room. And, sometimes there is just a good time to move on. Find an appropriate point in the conversation to make an exit. Say, “I really enjoyed talking to you about today’s meeting. I have your card and I’ll be in touch with you this week so we can discuss it further.” Make a plan that is actionable and give a specific time when you’ll follow up. Most importantly, if you say you’re going to do something, do it!

About the Author:
Debra Fine is a former engineer who developed her programs to teach technically oriented professionals conversational skills and business networking techniques. Debra’s programs are held regularly for Fortune 500 firms as well as financial, legal, health care, real estate, government, engineering and entrepreneurial organizations. Her best selling book The Fine Art of Small Talk (Hyperion) was published to excellent reviews and feature stories in USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine and The Chicago Tribune. Debra’s new book The Fine Art of the Big Talk focuses on winning clients, delivering great presentations and solving conflicts in the workplace. Her recent media appearances include the Today Show, the Early Show, CNN and NPR Morning Edition. Additional information about Debra can be viewed at www.DebraFine.com.

Debra Fine is the Keynote Speaker at WXW’s dynamic, all-day May Forum for women business leaders on Friday, May 20th. Register before Friday, May 6th to receive the early bird discount!

1. Stores have outdoor furniture displays and everything you could possibly need for your yard including supplies, flowers and soil.
2. Snow & Sunshine in the same week. Spring in Michigan is known for drastic weather changes.
3. New spring clothes have arrived at retail stores and sales on winter clothes have begun.
4. Dairy Queen is open.
5. The WXW Garden Party is today from 4:30pm – 7pm at the Ann Arbor Art Center.

1. Be prepared! Bring your business cards, name tag, schedule/calendar, pen and anything else you may need.
2. Act like the host. Pretend the event is your own party and be there early. Be sure you know where the food/drinks are as well as the bathrooms, so you can help others find them. In other words, be the hostess with the most-ess.
3. Talk less and listen more! Remember, you are here to create a network of relationships not a commercial for your business or services. Be sure to ask questions and engage in conversation.
4. Don’t do business at the event! This is the time for you to make connections, set up an appointment to do business after the event when you follow-up.
5. Be a connector. A good networker is generous, and helps to introduce others. Being known as a connector is very powerful. People want to connect with the connector.

Potential! is displaying work that clearly demonstrates achievements in creativity and transcends the usual class projects and assignments. Seniors have to opportunity to be awarded cash and scholarship prizes in the portfolio competition, best in show, best in medium and juror’s choice. Christopher Schneider, Program Manager of the Summer Art Institute at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, is the juror for this year’s Potential! exhibition.

Be sure to check out the exhibition at the WXW Garden Party on Thursday, April 21st!

Carrie Hensel and Debra Power, Co-Founders and Co-Presidents of the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw have received the prestigious award for Women in Business Champions. The Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw is a volunteer-based group, which runs educational and networking programs for businesswomen. WXW has helped women find jobs, create connections, generate referrals and make friends. This award would not have been possible without the support of all the volunteers and WXW attendees.

WXW Merry Mingling attendees donated 41 business suits as well as several professional winter coats to help stock the Women’s Center’s career clothing closet.



“Thank you so much for supporting our Career Closet, which helps women in our community have appropriate professional attire for job interviews and early days in their new jobs,” said Kimberli Cumming, Executive Director of the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan. “Clothing can be such a barrier for women who are starting over and picking up the pieces. Our own job-seeking clients, and women living in area shelters who also use our Career Closet, are much more likely to be successful in efforts to get back on their feet because of generous women like you.”



The mission of the Women’s Exchange of Washtenaw is to host unique events where women business leaders talk through their issues, share experiences and ideas, and form lasting connections. WXW was founded in 2007 by Ann Arbor business women Carrie Hensel and Debra Power to fill a need for an organization dedicated to women who are building strong and growing companies. Today, the WXW serves more than 700 women with interactive events and networking opportunities.



Carrie Hensel and Norman, the LaBeagle

The February 18, 2009 edition of Concentrate featured WXW’s co-founder, Carrie Hensel. In the article, Carrie discusses her winding career path, her philosophy of “fun” in business, and her motivations for starting WXW. Carrie notes -

Debra and I “decided we wanted to form a business group and wanted it to be for women who are leading or part of growing companies,” Hensel explains. “Though there happens to be a lot of support for start-ups, there isn’t as much for established companies that are 5, 10 or 15 years old and face different challenges.”

“Our tag line is ‘Now we’re talking’ and that’s what we do (at WXW events). That is really where the magic happens,” Hensel says. “It sounds cheesy, but that’s the place I want to be — when you’re talking to people and figuring stuff out.”

We encourage you to attend a WXW event to find out what the magic of conversation can do for you and your company.

> Read the entire Concentrate article here.

Debra and Carrie on the Lucy Anne Show

On January 31st, Debra Power and Carrie Hensel, WXW’s Co-Founders, were featured on the Lucy Anne Lance Show on WLBY 1290 AM – Lively, Local & Relevant to the Ann Arbor Area.

To hear the entire radio show, visit Lucy Anne’s website. Debra and Carrie are featured in Hour 1.

Lucy Anne asked lots of good questions about WXW’s February 4th event at the United Way – Women in Leadership Roles with Nonprofits. Debra and Carrie talked about why it’s so important for women business leaders to get involved with local and regional nonprofits. They noted that involvement on nonprofit boards is helpful for women who want to learn to be better leaders; it’s also beneficial for community nonprofits who want diverse, invested, and engaged board members.

Debra and Carrie also promoted WXW’s huge May event, the WXW Forum 2009 – Now We’re Talking.” On Friday, May 15th at the Kensington Court conference center, WXW will host an all-day event with morning workshops, and an afternoon filled with a panel of high powered business women, 8 dynamic breakout sessions, and a networking-packed happy hour. Attendance is expected to exceed 300.

To listen to Debra and Carrie, visit Lucy Anne’s website.