Networking is More than a Cardboard Connection!
Tips for making your networking more effective and more fun
What do you think of when you hear the word networking?
Networking is a term used all the time. Most professional meetings set aside time for networking. Why? One possible use of networking time is to catch up with friends and colleagues. However, if you are interested in career advancement or are an entrepreneur who seeks to build your business, networking time is an ideal opportunity to meet new people and make new relationships. Did you know an estimated 20-25 percent of available jobs are listed in newspapers, trade journals, or employment offices? The remaining 75 percent of jobs today are a result of networking according to www.Careermag.com
How do you make networking-time productive and fun?
Many people approach networking in the wrong way. Some consider networking as a time to talk all about themselves and their businesses in effort to get a sale. We have all met these people and our goal may be to figure out how to avoid them.
Then there are those who are uncomfortable networking so they sit in the corner, chat with friends, or have some snacks and then leave-or maybe they don’t show up at all. This is a lost opportunity.
Networking takes on a new look when you think about it as simply building relationships. These relationships may turn into new business, a new job, or even a new friend some time in the future.
Practical Application
Here are networking tips you can use whenever the opportunity to meet new people presents itself.
- Don’t Give Out Your Business Card. Don’t just build a cardboard connection by giving everyone you meet your business card and consider that networking. Do not give out your business card unless you are asked. When someone asks for your card that means s/he has an interest in what you do and will keep it. Otherwise, it will probably get tossed or lost. Be sure you get the cards of those you want to start building a relationship.
- Be Interested before being Interesting. It’s not all about you. People will connect with you more easily if you express interest in them and their business needs, issues, and success.
- Ask Questions. Everyone likes to talk about her/himself. Asking open-ended questions is a great way to learn and connect with others.
- Be Authentic. Be yourself. Be genuine when asking questions and listening. Don’t approach networking like a contest or performance.
- Be Positive. Accentuate the positive. Complaining is a turn off. Find something good to say even if you are not satisfied with the speaker, venue, food, etc. Others enjoy being around positive people. Be the “cup is half-full” type.
- Be Well-Read. Being fluent in topics in the news, issues in your industry, or recent bestseller business books. This information can be a good conversation starter and the basis of a discussion, especially with a new contact.
- Be a problem solver. Listen to other person to uncover their business needs. Think, "How can I help?" Suggest resources. Offer to help them solve problems or put them in contact with someone you know who may be able to help.
- Who Knows You - Not Who You Know. Introduce yourself to others. When you ask a question in a meeting or seminar, stand up (if it is a large group), and always introduce yourself prior to asking the question. Asking questions is a way to get “face time” with the group. Make sure it is a meaningful question. Never start with “this may be a dumb question but…” it minimizes the value of what you say.
- Have a Presence. Create an impression. Do this by the way you dress, the way you speak, act, shake hands, and move about the room. Wear an interesting (and appropriate) piece of clothing, or a distinctive accessory. This can be a conversation starter and make you more memorable. Pay attention to what your body language is saying.
- Don’t Cling! Circulate. Don’t talk to only one person or just your friends at a networking event. Go up to others and introduce yourself …especially if this is a stretch for you.
- Have an Exit Strategy. When someone is clinging to you, because you are friendly and easy to talk with, you will need a way to break free. One technique that works is to invite the clinger to circulate with you. It is easier than just walking away. Simply say, “I want to go over and talk to________ why don’t you join me and I’ll introduce you.”
- Follow up. If you have offered to provide a resource or contact, follow up in a timely fashion. For highly valued contacts, send a follow up e-mail with a resource or comment on a key point from your conversation. This will keep you on their radar screen and in their database.
- Stay in touch. Have a strategy to stay connected to key contacts. Staying in touch is as easy as forwarding a link to an interesting website, a program, or an article. Attentive listening and asking questions will help you know what is of interest. This will keep your network warm. A good idea is a magazine or newspaper clipping with a personal note.
- Elevator Speech. When you make new contacts, you must have the answer the question “What do you do?” ready to roll off your tongue in a clear and concise way. For tip sheet on developing your elevator speech, sometimes called a thirty- second commercial contact Jean@JeanCaton.net Message line- E-Speech Tip Sheet.
Coaching Tips
These 14 suggestions will help you know how to be a more effective at networking. They will not help you overcome fears or resistance to networking. If you are shy or introverted and dislike networking you must stop the negative chatter in your head telling you “I’m not good at this” or “I don’t like to do this.” Then overcome your resistance, which is usually based in fear. Examine what it is that you are resisting. Finally, follow the advice of Susan Jeffers in her best selling book “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.”
( You can read my review of her book here.)
Marketing Me and My Business: Why Informercials Work
Informercials work!
Even though we know some of the products don’t. So why do millions of people buy these products? Because the messages are so compelling you just “have to have it!” The celebrities and actors are so passionate about how the product will help solve your problem you can’t even think about not buying it!
What is it about you that others just “have to have”( your boss, company, clients) ? What do you so clearly and passionately tell others are the “must buy” from you ? The answer to that question is your marketing message line, your UVP (unique value proposition,) your personal brand. It is why you get promoted or attract clients to your business.
Once you clearly identify your unique contribution, craft your message line, and use it for self-marketing, you will no longer be underestimated, overlooked, or denied proper recognition for your accomplishments. Just like the magic cleaner, cooker, or exercise machine people will “buy” your skills, strengths, and contributions.
Coaching Tips:
- Make a list of your “must have’s” and be certain they align with the needs and priorities of your company or ideal clients.
- Be authentic. You need not be ‘out there’ like the infomercial celebrities. You can self-promote in many effective, and low key ways.
- Communicate your informercial clearly and with passion and conviction. Don’t be a well-kept secret.
- Believe in you. Your informercial is simply helping others discover how you can help them (your boss, company, clients) It is not bragging when done right.
- Don’t avoid self-marketing if you are serious about success. Simply learn how to do it with integrity.
- Educating your manager and your company to help them realize they “must have” your unique contributions and “can’t live without” you can increase your chances of surviving the layoff
P.S. Even sensible Jean admits to having 2-3 products in her home purchased through infomercials. Can you say Snuggie™? Last year I was watching an informercial at the gym and joined the Snuggie movement. A friend and client Jim, bought my cats the Emery Cat ™ Board, and I have a Shark Hand Held Steamer that actually is a great cleaning tool.
Get advice on your infomercial from Jean
Request a career strategy consult simply e-mail Jean at info@jeancaton.net or call 314.807.6328.
“And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
~ Anais Nin
How Will You Earn More Money Capitalizing on These 2010 Trends?
How Will You Earn More Money Capitalizing on These 2010 Trends ?
50% Number of Americans who make New Yearʼs resolutions
25% of people who fail after one week
[Great opportunity for RDʼs who are trained as a Coach!]
99% Jump in Weight Watchers website visits in January
12% percentage of gym memberships sold in January (most of any month)
1 million boxes of smoking cessation gum and patches sold in January
1 in 10 ʻresolversʼ who actually quit smoking
42% Jump in traffic on career sites in January
Source Entrepreneur Magazine, December 2009
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Attention RDʼs who are entrepreneurs and coaches… the market has never been better. Help people get healthy, eat better, be more fit, stop unhealthy habits like smoking. Seize this opportunity. Reach people all over the world using technology. Find out how in this free teleclass January 13th. |
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For the 42% who are heading to the career sites, you may want to check out this free teleclass January 14th. Any one who has a 2010 resolution ( you, your colleagues, your clients) may want to participate in a Mastermind group, a proven way to help you achieve any goal. Learn more in this free teleclass January 27th. |
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Any one who has a 2010 resolution ( you, your colleagues, your clients) may want to participate in a Mastermind group, a proven way to help you achieve any goal. Learn more in this free teleclass January 27th. |