It is simple human nature that we are naturally drawn to upbeat people. Happy people generate positive energy that helps buoy up friends and colleagues alike.

My networking tip for today is simple: Be positive!

If you walk into a networking event down in the dumps you will leave feeling even worse with the realization that you’ve wasted time and left a bad impression that will be difficult to undo. Times are challenging and everyone has reasons to feel down on occasion but here are some simple ideas for projecting positive energy:

1. Wear a nice outfit with an item that calls attention to your individual style — be it a colorful scarf or a bold piece of jewelry. (If you’re a guy, this might be a challenge)

2. Have a quick, interesting, and relevant story at the ready that will be of interest to anyone you meet. Business-specific blogs can be an excellent source of up-to-date information

3. Do whatever it takes to match names with faces as people loved to hear their name spoken and love to feel remembered. That is why business cards with pictures are so convenient – and effective.

4. Resist gossiping! When you hear negative spin about someone else, make it a challenge to spin the ball the other way by saying something positive about the person being criticized. The trick is to do so in a way that doesn’t appear judgmental of the gossipers.

5. Be ready with suggestions that you can pull out of your hat to help other people. For example, what books or articles have you read lately that would be helpful or interesting to other business people? Be ready to recommend whatever fiction you are reading as well – provided it is not Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic The Road.

Here is a short list of highly effective networking tips. Give each one careful thought. Try to implement them at your next networking event. Observe the results. Then consider how often people do not follow these tips and then go on to complain about their respective networking experiences!

1. Networking is about projecting a positive attitude. A smile is contagious. Never project negative energy and strive to stay out of other people’s negative force field.
2. Networking is about projecting a professional attitude and having a great business card with current information at the ready.
3. Networking is more about farming than hunting. It’s about cultivating trust and developing relationships.
4. Networking is about listening more than talking.
Don’t you hate it when you go to an event, get cornered by someone, and can’t escape a canned elevator speech? Make it a point to ask people questions, remember the responses, and engage them again on the same topics in the future. People notice when others listen.
5. Networking is about proposing a next step. After you’ve listened to another professional explain what she does and what she is looking for, don’t just nod politely – throw out a concrete idea. This will increase your value in her eyes. Perhaps you know someone who can help her solve a specific problem. Offer to make that phone call and then do it.