We all know that networking is one of the most effective things you can do in your pursuit of business (or personal!) success. Your ability to approach networking effectively however is dependent on your personality, your intuition, and what you have been taught by your mentors along the way.
There is a great deal of information on the web about networking. Perhaps too much. It can be a bit overwhelming, so here are some tips from a variety of sources to get you started (or fine-tuned, as it were):
Feel free to talk to anyone about anything. You certainly don’t have to be an expert to participate in others thinking. No one is as smart as all of us put together. Besides, you never know who might have an innovative solution to a problem.
Develop a high tolerance for ambiguity. Opening yourself up to other ideas and viewpoints can result in challenging our OWN ideas, beliefs, and sometimes even our values. A different perspective can do that. Remain open to it and you’ll better understand your own position.
Don’t participate solely with the intent of gaining something. Let it happen organically. Give more than you receive. Be sincere and helpful. (This may seem simplistic, but you’d be surprised how many people ignore this tip.)
Be fearless. Starting a conversation with someone you don’t know is intimidating. Once you are comfortable approaching strangers and starting a conversation you will view networking as a delight. And it is.
Always think about the helpful connections you might be able to offer. Pay it forward is the slang for this talent. I have done this for decades and find that it comes naturally to me now, and can be very satisfying. Becoming a social maven will keep you on the lookout for strong connections between people, and bring a natural ability to connect those people “within the tribe.” Benefits from these efforts occur over time, and often when you least expect it.
Trust your gut instinct. If you feel a connection you’ve made won’t endure, move on. Don’t connect people when your gut tells you one or both parties are not worthy of your trust. It may come back to haunt you.
Expand your topics with some humor. Exude confidence or break the ice with a humorous comment and you will be sought out for your networking vibe. Once you have reached that level, it will be you who is approached which makes meeting people even easier!
Have a way of keeping track of the people you meet and what you discussed. I use a trick of jotting a key word or phrase on their card before I put it in my pocket. And then immediately after the event, I go thru the cards and expand on my “card notes” while everything is fresh in my mind. That way when you follow-up with them later you can reference a trigger to quickly reestablish the connection; as well as better refer them to someone else in your network that may be of benefit to them.
Maintain your integrity and that of your network. People have trusted you with their personal information. Always live up to that trust.
Maintain connections thru the myriad of tools available: personal interaction (telephone, email), social networking technologies (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook), and public interaction (conferences, events). Remember that your network is a living thing, and requires constant cultivation.
Finally, I highly recommend the book
Tribes by Seth Godin. Although not directly about networking, it does address the development of what he calls your “tribe”, and the dynamics involved in expanding and perfecting your tribe.
“The Golden Rule only works when you remember that it’s your turn first.”
--- Joe Famalette, CEO, The Retreat; marketing guru