You’re building your business network. What’s the most common mistake you should avoid?

Common Mistakes: 1. Focus on collecting business cards vs making meaningful connections: Instead of just going around and collecting as many business cards as possible, focus on building genuine relationships. Take the time to have meaningful conversations with people you meet. 2. Not following through with promises made: When networking, it's common to exchange promises or commitments, such as sending an email, scheduling a follow-up meeting, or sharing resources. However, failing to follow through on these promises can damage your credibility and reputation. 3. Neglecting to listen actively and engage with others can hinder building genuine connections and rapport.

Gone are the days, where number of connects impressed someone. Now it is what you can offer. Your quality is your skillset or content that you put out there. Your connects will find you meaningful only when you add value to them as that would increase your worth and also help you connect with more like-minded people.

In my experience as a Health Analyst & Results Coach, the most common mistake to avoid when building a new business network is focusing solely on what you can gain rather than what you can offer. It's essential to approach networking with a mindset of giving and adding value to others rather than just seeking opportunities for yourself. By prioritising building genuine connections and offering assistance or insights to others, you'll cultivate stronger relationships and foster a network of mutual benefit in the long run. It's then a win-win situation.

Focusing only on personal gains is a mistake that can undermine any effort to build a strong network. Relationships built on mutual value and trust, rather than quick transactions, tend to last longer and bring more opportunities. Rushing to ask for favors without establishing rapport often leaves a negative impression. Instead, take time to listen, understand the other person’s needs, and offer value where possible. Neglecting to follow up after a good conversation is another missed opportunity. A brief, thoughtful message can turn a casual chat into a meaningful connection. Above all, authenticity matters. Be genuine and let your curiosity and sincerity guide the interaction.

I am a podcaster and hence my target audience is based on the show I Put up. At the moment, I am working with Indian Entrepreneurs which makes LinkedIn a good platform to market my episodes since it is a professional website. You need to understand your goal, your intent and what outcome you want from networking.. Networking is not just about connecting with people from everywhere, it is about adding value to you through other people's expertise, skillset, reach, guidance and more... Be selective, to create a network that adds value.

Networking is not about getting and "what's in it for me". Networking is creating interactive business relationship with mutual benefits. If you want to get, you have to also give back in return.

Beim Netzwerken geht es nicht zuerst darum, neue Kunden "für mich, mein Business, meinen Geldbeutel" zu finden. Ganz wichtig sind strategische Partnerschaften, also Beziehungen auf Augenh?he, die sich gegenseitig weiterempfehlen k?nnen, weil sie über die Produkte und Dienstleistungen des anderen informiert sind. Es ist ein st?ndiges Geben und Nehmen, aber das sollte nie aufgerechnet werden.

Another thing that I have often seen is that many people mistake Networking as personal marketing. If I am only talking about myself to my connects then I will just have numbers, not network. Network is a 2-way channel where you exchange information, knowledge, achievements, advices, job opportunities, leads, business acumen and more..

I had a gap of not being in touch when it came to networking as that is how I am in my personal life as well. Did I loose on many potential value-added people - YES!!!! Now I am working on it and making sure that I share my journey in a way where I can listen and engage my connects as well to have a new perspective on the goals that I have set.

Follow up ist ganz, ganz wichtig. Entweder gleich die Nachfolgetermine ausmachen oder fragen, wann man sich wieder melden darf. Freundliche Hartn?ckigkeit in der Kontaktaufnahme hat schon viel bewirkt.

It is crucial to recognize that, regardless of your proficiency in Business Networking, there will always be room for learning and continual growth, as it is an integral part of discovering areas for improvement. To identify these areas for enhancement, consider aligning yourself with mentors who can assess your performance in relation to your objectives. Additionally, seeking feedback from key business contacts, both advocates and detractors, can provide valuable insights on areas that may benefit from improvement, change, or refinement.