Behold, The Power of a Coffee Meeting and 8 Tips on How to Make it Successful

Never underestimate the power of a cup of coffee. Coffee meetings combine networking, pleasure and a hint of business. Whether you have a coffee meeting on the calendar or are considering asking someone to join you for a coffee meeting in the future, there are six things you should know to make this intimate-yet-informal gathering successful. In todays world, we often forgo these meetings because work gets in the way. We should be making a priority to step away, reconnect and keep conversations going. 

It is entirely okay to do a trial run before your coffee meeting. You can scope out the best, quietest seating areas; discover which times of day to avoid; and figure out where the outlets are in case you need to bring your tablet or notebook.

Always arrive early. Find a comfortable spot to sit, have a small cup of calming tea (emphasis on small to avoid multiple restroom visits), and remind yourself that you are a pretty cool person and that this meeting is going to go great.

To ensure your coffee meeting is fruitful, do a little homework on the person you're meeting. Don’t be creepy about it - you don’t need to stalk their Instagram account to find out the name of their Siberian husky. Your research depends a lot on the reason you’re having the coffee meeting for in the first place.

If you’re meeting with a potential employer, get a good grasp on the company’s vision and make a point of working it into the conversation. Let your future boss know that you are already invested and on board with what the business stands for and with its values.

If your coffee meeting is with a potential mentor or a person you’re hoping to network with, try to find some common ground. Perchance you graduated from the same university, or you have some previous business or friends in common. A little commonality can go a long way to break the ice.

Consider your goals well before the meeting. For example, perhaps you are meeting with a college professor with whom you would like to intern. You could work something like this into your conversation very naturally: “I’m interested in working in {insert desired field here}, and I was intrigued by the work you did with {insert your previously completed homework here}. I would love to learn more about your department to see if it would be a good fit for me.” Boom. You just named your goal in a non-threatening, slightly complimentary way, and now you can see where the conversation flows.

Remember, though, don’t let your agenda lead you. Your personal agenda statement doesn’t necessarily need to come flying out of your mouth right off the bat. Coffee meetings are informal and non-threatening for a reason. There is nothing wrong with letting your intentions be known, but at the same time, don’t let your goals dominate the conversation. Let your personality shine and do the talking for you - the primary objective here is to find that spark that leaves your coffee partner feeling right about meeting with you.

The market is competitive - there are a lot of highly qualified people out there just like you who are looking for that next big opportunity.  Not all highly qualified people, however, can sit down with someone they don’t know well and have a casual chat. This is why coffee meetings are a great way to get your foot in the door. As long as you know how to make your way around a conversation, you’ve got this.

Ask intelligent, open-ended questions that show that you are thoughtful and that you did your homework. Make sure you’re engaging in back and forth conversational turns. Remember, this is not your opportunity to blather on and on about all of your accomplishments. Instead, work them in strategically in natural conversation, and take the time to listen and learn about ways you might help your new connection.

Coffee meetings are all about relationship building and creating that spark. Keep that in mind, and don’t be nervous: just be you. Remember all of the things you have to offer a potential employer, mentor, or business partner, and speak with confidence.

Enjoy your coffee meeting for what it is: an informal get together that may or may not end up with a callback. Go into your coffee meeting expecting the best, while realistically understanding that sometimes people just don’t click, and that’s ok. It’s part of the beauty of what makes us human. Thankfully, every opportunity has a silver lining. Consider it this way; every coffee meeting is a chance to network at the very least. At most, your next exciting possibility could be just a breve away.