Shanghai is a concrete jungle, and there’s awhole zoo of animals you can meet at your average networking event. Put on your best David Attenborough impression and take a look below: you might be one of them…

Pin Stripe Tiger

You’ll find this species at many networking events around town – they can easily be distinguished by their unique pinstriped coat markings and hunger for building their collection of contacts. Just when you think you’ve escaped, you may hear their mating call the next day as they call you up from Honest Joe’s Financial Services and keep you on the phone despite your protests.

How to deal with them: If you see a pinstripe suit, stay away. They’re often financial services and you’ll be receiving annoying phone calls from them forever more.

Limpet

Have you ever been to the beach and seen those little shellfish clinging to the rocks, and no matter what you do you can’t pull them off? Now, exchange beach for “networking event”, shellfish for “person” and rock for “you”. That’s right. a limpet is the kind of person you start talking to and then you just can’t get rid of them. They may be nice people, or they may be annoying as heck, but sometimes you’ve just got to get mingling (and really, they should be doing the same).

How to deal with them: Limpets can be difficult to get rid of, but not impossible. Try getting another person into your conversation and then sneaking off while the limpet attaches to them. Or drain your drink quickly and say you need to head to the bar for another drink. For added bonus points, do this when they have a full glass and ask if they want a drink themselves. Usually the answer is no and you’ll look generous for offering!

Wet fish

I’m sure we’ve all had our share of wet fish handshakes in the past, and not only from scuba diving and the Carrefour seafood section. Wet fish are generally floppy, moist, limp and not much fun to hold onto. For me, and most others, a wet fish causes a bad first impression – and that can kill building a valuable relationship in networking.

How to turn your wet fish into a real handshake: If you’re a wet fish, don’t worry. You can easily shake hands better:

a) Ensure your hands are dry and clean. Wipe on your trousers (discreetly!) if necessary
b) Grip the other person’s hand firmly. Ensure the skin between your thumb and index finger is touching the other person’s skin between thumb and index finger
c) Shake firmly tw0 t0 three times

Which animals do you see when networking? Good or bad, we’d love to know. Just leave a comment!