How do you nurture your relationships and network as an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurs often approach networking with an egocentric view, seeking immediate gains. Yet, the secret sauce to genuine, lasting connections is flipping that script. Dive into networking with an altruistic intent, asking, "How can I assist?" rather than "What's in it for me?" Be vulnerable: share not just successes but the stumbles. Authenticity, paired with humility, distinguishes you. In a sea of egos, let your humility be your beacon, drawing others in. The best networkers don't just take; they give, enriching the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Seasoned networkers can smell the stench of desperation from across the room. People can sense when someone is only out to help himself. Tip-offs ranging from a panicked look in the eyes to a portfolio brimming with investments will send them running. On the other hand, by networking when you have no ulterior motive, you can begin to build relationships and a reputation for being generous rather than self-serving. Forget your personal agenda. You may be tempted to network to land a quick transaction, generosity is an attractive quality and it’s something that people will remember about you. Follow up and follow through. If you told someone you’d get in touch with them, do it and reaffirm your intent to assist in any way you can.

I stopped pitching my businesses at networking events long ago. Instead, I ask people about their kids, what movies they like, and crack jokes. It's a networking event, so work will naturally find its way into the conversation. Except now you're speaking with someone who cares about what you have to say.

Active listening opens so many doors. Don’t go on and on about your “baby” or amazing idea; don’t make it the “MeTV” show. People love to be listened to and heard, and to meet people who show genuine interest in them too. You never know who could be an investor, cofounder, customer, advocate, etc. , but you’ll never learn that if you don’t hold space and listen to them. They’ll likely ask you questions and “let” you talk too, but no need to be overbearing.

Over the years, what I found to be most effective is to genuinely care about the other person. When you meet a person, try to do your best to think about how you can add value to that person. There is a book called 'Never Eat Alone' that explains this well. If you continuously add value to people, network will automatically happen.

I've come to learn that being generous with your time, knowledge, and resources can be an invaluable way to nurture relationships and build a larger network. Whenever there's the opportunity to help someone out, give advice or point them in the right direction, don't hesitate. Being willing to lend a hand without expecting anything in return helps demonstrate your genuine care for others and strengthens your reliability as a person to have in their circle. Put yourself out there with full intentions of being valuable and generous, and you'll reap the rewards.

In my experience, nurturing relationships in my professional network has been crucial for business growth and success. The second paragraph of the article emphasizes the importance of maintaining regular communication and providing value to your network. I fully agree with this perspective. By staying connected and engaging with individuals in my network, I have been able to foster trust, establish mutually beneficial collaborations, and gain valuable insights. Whether it's sharing industry updates, offering assistance, or connecting people within my network, consistently nurturing relationships has proven to be a powerful way to expand my professional opportunities and create a supportive community.

There is an outdated sales perspective that states “never give away free consultation”. This was clearly written prior to the Internet. Your prospects can gather as many insights thoughts, perspectives, and advice from googling their question with little to no need to speak, with a sales rep until much further down the buying journey. With this in mind, we need to be the one that’s providing Value and insigts before they even know they need us. When we detach from what the prospect is worth to us, and attached to what we are worth to the prospect by providing value and resources, we become the vendor of choice.

Give first, but be specific. Don't just say "Is there anything I can help you with?" It may sound generous, but it's ambiguous and can actually be confusing to the person you're offering to help. Instead, mention a few specific ways you can provide value. They may not be interested but at least it gives them more context. As a result they may ask for help with something related to your offer. At the very least, they'll know how you can help their network.

Give, give, and give some more. The key to getting is by giving. In business that is value, and it can be in the shape of an introduction, or a kind gesture. It is so important to seek to give value, and expect to get nothing in return. People will respond to kindness with kindness, and kindness always wins.

Being curious and asking thought provoking questions will expand your network and keep you top of mind. These are three questions that I frequently asking during a conversation. 1. How did you become interested in your vocation? 2. What is the one thing about your leadership journey that you would like to share with the world? 3. How do you document and celebrate your wins? Remember #LeadLoudly 3 V's of #personalbranding. Share your #voice, always add #value, and #visibility is the key to networking successfully! #LeadLoudly #bold #confident #fearless

Being curious is the absolute game changer for any entrepreneur. Curiosity opens the door to interesting ideas, thoughts and people. If you care about people, and want to build connection then being curious is that very door in doing so. There are so many interesting people in the world and they all have so many unique and exciting stories, yet they are usually never given the platform to share them. People love feeling accounted for. People love sharing a part of who they are, at their core. Ask open questions, have active listening and most importantly be curious about absolutely everything and everyone.

This opens so many doors and can differentiate you from most of your contemporaries. You never know who you’ve come across unless you hold the space to find out. This is also just a considerate and open approach that will endear the right people to you.

You can’t fake curiosity. You can ask discovery questions, but if they are all about curating insights, that can help you make the sale, it is not curiosity. When you were truly curious, you want to learn about all of their initiatives, their clients, their clients’ trends and industry insights, their projections, their fears, and even a little window into their family and fun life. Dale Carnegie, in his book from 1938, Win, friends and influence People starts with a real interest in the other person, not the sale.

Be genuinely interested in others. Ask questions, listen actively, and show that you care about what they have to say. Be generous with your time and resources. Help others, and they'll be more likely to help you. Be present and engaged. Focus on building relationships and learning from others. Be curious. Ask questions, listen actively, and learn from others.

The importance of consistency when it comes to nurturing relationships and growing your network cannot be understated. It's not enough to reach out to others just when you need something – or never again after a single interaction – but rather, showing them that you value them as people and are interested in keeping in touch. This could be through sending thank-you notes or birthday wishes, or simply just being present by sharing relevant news, podcasts, or events. Taking the time and effort to stay in contact with those who matter shows that you're committed to maintaining a long-term relationship.

Consistency can be difficult. Most people in work and personal relationships have lots of life challenges which can throw things off. Also, mental health and self care is being brought into the spotlight more and more. There is nothing wrong with being authentic if you are extremely busy, not in a good place or have personal issues which are preventing you from being as consistent as normal. Being a little vulnerable and authentic can build trust and respect.

Consistency is noticed subconsciously and always speaks to the character of an entrepreneur, leader, etc. It is part and parcel to being considerate like being on time, keeping your word, etc.

You can build and maintain a powerful network by blocking off 15 minutes per day to check in on your contacts. Even a casual note on LinkedIn or comment on one of their posts is enough to maintain your relationships. And, here's a bonus tip. If you notice someone recently got laid off, reach out to them. Sure, you may not be able to help, but they'll appreciate the fact you showed empathy while they were going through a rough patch.

I carve out at least 25 minutes every week (usually on a weekend afternoon) to send messages to at least 10 people. Do this consistently for 50 weeks a year and you’ll be strengthening relationships with 500+ people a year.

My mom always taught me to treat everyone with same respect that I want to receive in return no matter who they are in this world. Being respectful towards others is another key factor in nourishing relationships and building a larger support system. It's important to remember that everyone has a unique set of boundaries, preferences, and schedules, and it's our duty to be mindful of them. Before sending out any messages or requests, always ask for permission first. Use their preferred method of communication and be considerate of their decisions – no matter what they may be. Showing respect demonstrates your professionalism and thoughtfulness while demonstrating an awareness of the needs and feelings of those around you.

Give people the benefit of the doubt. If someone misses an appointment, is a no-show, take the high road and check that everything is OK with them. Would they like to reschedule? Stuff happens. Treat others as you want to be treated. Respect breeds respect.

If we want to thrive in our relationships and networks, being respectful is a must-have skill. Respect shows that we value and appreciate others. It also builds trust and loyalty. When we're respectful and show others how valued they are to us that's the holy grail. It's when they become more likely to want to work with us and even spread the word about us to others. But wait, there's more! Respect is just the starting point. To really rock it, we gotta show empathy and understanding. Understanding other people's perspectives, and how they got there, helps us connect with them on deeper levels — leading to relationships that are not just strong but also meaningful and fulfilling.

Respect is cost of entry for every and any relationship. And, that too needs to be treated with levels of mindfulness. Making sure that there's a balance of giving and receiving. Being understanding when cancellations or rescheduling need to happen. These are people in your tribe. Treat them well, give them your best, and show up as your wonderful self.

Say no to requests when you don’t have enough water in the glass and allow others to do so ?? Say yes to only people, things and opportunities that are aligned with our values and vision ?? Respect our being holistically and offer the same to others

Absolutely spot on. I have been living by these principles my entire life and I totally agree. I would add gratitude to this as well.

Be vulnerable Many entrepreneurs hesitate to share the challenges that they face while building a startup. In my personal experience, the more I have opened up and shared the challenges, the more support I have received from my network. It is about keeping it real and authentic and coming from a place of curiosity to learn from and give back to your network.

At the core of successful entrepreneurs, you’ll find people who always challenge themselves, seek feedback and work to stay ahead. There’s little way of achieving success if you’re not adaptable i.e. using feedback and new information from the market, clients, competitors and collaborators to make your next move. As an entrepreneur myself, I’ve found that adaptability requires humility and a passion for personal development. I moved from engineering to marketing to entrepreneurship over a 17-year period and I wouldn’t have achieved much if I wasn’t open and ready for new (sometimes scary!) opportunities.

Regular communication: Keeping in touch, sharing updates, and exchanging ideas. Providing value: Helping others succeed, offering advice or resources when possible. Genuine interest: Caring about individuals' success, not just potential business benefits. Networking events: Attending industry functions, meetups, and conferences. Social media: Engaging with contacts on platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter. Follow-ups: After meetings or events, reinforcing connections made. Mutual respect: Honoring commitments and valuing others' time.

Roll with the punches and adapt to the scenario. The more rigid you are the more you give others the impression "It's my way or the highway."