These tips are applicable for networking whenever you are trying to engage your partner and form an important immediate connection as a foundation of a future follow up.

I recently read a post by Fred Kofman, a professor of leadership and coaching, titled “7 Steps to Prove That You Are Listening”. It was addressing men, husbands, fathers suggesting how to open up the channel of communications with their wives, daughters, significant others. What was interesting is that I realized this was the intent only after getting to the end of the post. I read the whole thing with the impression that the tips were for effective networking for anyone.

Read more at http://www.women2.com/effective-networking-by-learning-to-listen

by Vadim Slavin (StartupMonthly co-founder, COO)

StartupMonthly started as a grass roots movement in Silicon Valley but as many already know is quickly spreading to other parts of the worlds. Here is why. Firstly, it offers the entrepreneurship school which teaches (through hands-on workshops)

• how to articulate an idea
• how to perform effective Customer Development
• how to recruit the right co-founding team of capable people who will work well together
• how to convert an idea into a business model
• how to validate the business model and adapt it to the market needs

Today, Startup Monthly Idea Accelerator program had its first Ice Breaker event. What a difference it made to those who came to meet their future teammates. At the end of the day the success of the event was measured in decibels, in angry stares of the security guard,  in cups of coffee, and in smiles. Let me explain.

The purpose of the Ice Breaker event was to melt the ice between introverted engineers, extraverted entrepreneurs, and everyone else in between. The usual introductions don’t work. How can you judge your compatibility with a person based on the handshake and a smile? This is why Startup Monthly team decided to turn the old formula of co-founder meetups upside down. The purpose of the Ice Breaker was to place people in a comfortable, fun and equalizing setting.