3 Keys to Networking Success
Hi, everyone! Well, as the saying goes, “April Showers bring May flowers.” But in business…effective networking brings new blossoms to your business. Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, networking is a business necessity. But cheer up…we can all reduce our fears of walking into a room full of strangers and make new friends who can help grow your business. So, let’s get started!
Key #1 Cultivate Authentic Connections.
This first key is being authentic. No matter how uncomfortable or nervous you feel I can guarantee you are not the only one feeling this way. As a matter of fact, one of the best ways to be authentic is to put others at ease. Everyone feels shy and tries to hug the nearest corner.
One way you can meet people just where they are is to approach someone who is standing all alone and introduce yourself. Say who you are and what you do. Then ask them their name and what they do. The next thing you say can clinch a new friendship, “I always feel nervous at these events, don’t you?” Do this and watch what happens! The more people you approach like this and make feel at ease, the more confidence you will gain. Watch this TED talk on An Introvert’s Guide to Networking. It’s funny and can really help anyone become better at networking.
Key 2: Be Strategic.
To master networking takes strategy. It is simply impossible to meet everyone in a venue, but anyone can set a goal to meet 3-5 people at an event. By doing this you can make greater contacts and enjoy yourself. Scope out the room and see who looks interesting, which name badges identify a company you’d like to learn more about, or someone who seems like they’d be fun to meet. Then you can approach these people and introduce yourself. If someone you’d like to meet is involved in a conversation, wait for a break in their discussion before approaching. Or come back and talk later.
If you want to excel at networking, focus on being a “net-giver”. This is a person who while wanting to expand their own contacts is able to ask others how he or she can help another person. Who do they want to meet? What need do they have and how can you help them? Watch this quick video on ten tips to enhance your next networking event.
Key 3: Be Great at follow up.
Congratulations, you made 3-4 new connections. Now, as Jim Rohn repeated often, “The fortune is in the follow-up.” Don’t waste all your hard work by neglecting to follow up with these new contacts. Since you had a brief time to chat at the event, contact your new connections the next day and schedule a time to get together for coffee to learn more about their business. Set these appointments at a local coffee shop and stack up several meetings in a row to be more time efficient.
When I call or email, I mention meeting them at the recent event and ask if we could grab coffee (which indicates a short meeting) so I can learn more about their business and so I might introduce people that might help their business. Guess what? Very few people ever turn down these meetings. And once I learn about their business, I take the opportunity to share mine. Then I add them to my data base and continue to try to help them.
Follow these three tips to enhance your networking. You’ll be glad you did. I’d love to hear your networking tips. Please reach out to me and share what really works for you.
