Oct 01 2009
7 top tips for Successful Networking
If networking is not part of your strategy, please reconsider. Here’s 7 top tips for successful networking by Rick Armstrong.
1. What’s Your Reason? Don’t network for the sake of networking. What is your goal for your networking? For example, you might be in it to find new business, key people who can help you step up the career ladder or to keep up with the latest developments in your industry. Whatever your goal, know what it is and make sure your networking takes you there.
2. Be Patient. Build your network in good time. Don’t rush out to network to fulfill a sudden need. You will be so focused on that urgent need that you won’t be building relationships. People can sense the difference between someone out to use them for a short-term fix and someone who is looking for a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship. So, build your network in advance, so that it will already be there in time of need.
3. Choose Carefully. Cherry pick the right events where you’ll meet the right people. If you can, get the list of attendees and their contact details. At least ask the organisers what kind of people will be going. You could even call up one or two to make a connection before you go. Remember this is your precious and valuable time!
4. Be Courageous. People don’t go networking to be alone. You can’t be backwards at coming forwards at networking events. Ask for three things - permission to join people, permission to help people and permission to keep in touch (i.e. a business card).
5. Be Polite. If you think someone’s boring, they’ may well be thinking you are too! You won’t click with everyone. Be polite and helpful to all you meet, and do whatever you can for them. When you’re a regular networker, your reputation soon gets around. And what goes around, comes around.
6. Be There! Keep your attendance up. Trust and relationships are long term games. People feel comfortable with those they like and trust, and it’s rare you’ll accomplish that with ‘one night stands’!
7. Follow Up. The biggest Networking Crime is when you don’t do something with those contacts you have made. Make sure you follow up, it is essential if want to grow a relationship and turn it into a great contact or a piece of business. Fortune is in the Follow up!
Wow! Simple but not easy! Nothing that BNI doesn’t teach us! How many of us do it!? Will revisit each of them!
PPai