Success in life and business is all about making lasting connections. This is an idea that deserves more press, and it’s a Credence Innovations principle that we live by. In fact, this is the motivation behind our commitment to becoming skilled networkers, and in teaching our new hires to value networking as well.

We know a lot of people find the idea of networking a bit scary, but we believe this is due to a lack of training and practice. To help you remedy this situation, we’ve put together a list of our best Credence Innovations networking tips to make sure you make the most of the upcoming holiday season:

• Practice Ice Breakers: Getting started is the hardest part of almost any activity, and this includes conversations. Creating an effective opening statement for yourself is pretty simple though: your name, what you do, and a skill you’re proud of are great for a start. Once you’ve mastered this essential info, you can add some flair, but try to keep your spiel at 30 seconds or less. That way, you have plenty of time for our next suggestion…

• Ask Questions: Believe it or not, this is where you make yourself a memorable networker. Showing a genuine interest in the person you’re speaking with will set you apart from those who are just trying to collect as many business cards as possible. Lasting connections require both people in a conversation to have a chance to talk. And finally, a word of advice…

• Have Goals: Before going to a networking event, set a realistic goal for how many people you want to meet, what kind of professionals you hope to talk to, etc. This way you carry yourself with purpose, and have a sense of achievement when you hit your target.

It really is that simple! But if you need more proof, no problem: like Credence Innovations on Facebook, and you’ll see us putting our tips into action.