Why Some of the Best Business Conversations Happen Outside the Office

Why Some of the Best Business Conversations Happen Outside the Office

Think about some of your best business conversations.

Chances are, not all of them happened while sitting across a conference table.

Maybe it was a conversation over coffee. A quick introduction at an event that turned into a 30-minute conversation. Lunch with someone you had only exchanged emails with before. Or even a casual conversation that started with absolutely nothing to do with business.

There’s something about getting outside of the office that changes the way we connect.

Not Every Conversation Needs an Agenda

Meetings have a purpose. There’s usually an agenda, a list of things to accomplish and another meeting waiting right behind it.

But relationship building works a little differently.

When you have time to actually talk to someone, you learn things that probably wouldn’t come up during a scheduled 30-minute meeting. You find out what they’re working on, what challenges they’re facing, what they’re excited about—or maybe that you both have kids who play the same sport.

Those little conversations matter.

Because people tend to remember the person they connected with, not just the business card they received.

There’s a Reason Business and Golf Go Together

Golf creates something we don’t get enough of during the workday: time.

A round of golf gives you several hours with the same group of people. You can talk business for a few holes, talk about absolutely nothing for the next few and circle back to an idea later.

There’s no pressure to squeeze your elevator pitch into 30 seconds.

And you definitely learn a few things about people along the way.

Who is competitive?

Who keeps everyone laughing?

Who takes five practice swings before every shot?

Who somehow finds their ball no matter how far into the trees it goes?

By the end of the day, you probably know your foursome a little better than you did when you started.

Networking Doesn’t Have to Feel Like Networking

For some people, walking into a room full of strangers and being told to “network” sounds exhausting.

But networking doesn’t always have to mean name tags, handshakes and trying to figure out how to gracefully enter a conversation.

Sometimes it looks like spending an afternoon doing something together.

The activity gives you something to talk about. The conversation happens naturally. And somewhere between the jokes, missed putts and good shots, relationships start forming.

That’s really what networking is supposed to be anyway.

Take the Conversation Somewhere Different

At the Plano Chamber, creating opportunities for those connections is a big part of what we do.

And sometimes, we do it on the golf course.

The 35th Annual Plano Chamber Golf Tournament takes place Monday, September 28 at The Courses at Watters Creek. It’s an afternoon to get away from your desk, spend some time with clients or colleagues, meet other members of the business community and enjoy a little friendly competition.

And yes, there’s also a $20,000 Hole-in-One Contest—because apparently regular office networking doesn’t offer enough opportunities to walk away $20,000 richer.

So grab your clubs, gather your foursome and come spend an afternoon making connections outside the conference room.

We’ll see you on the course.

Register at https://members.planochamber.org/events/details/35th-annual-golf-tournament-24824