Building A Strong Business Network

I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to share an article I read about networking. Here are a few highlights:

In today's business world, building a strong network is essential for success. Networking goes beyond mere transactions and your contact list. Networking requires a focus on cultivating meaningful relationships through which businesses can gain access to collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures.

Networking is not just about immediate gain; it is about knowing each other well and cultivating trust and rapport. This shift in perception allows businesses to build deep, meaningful connections that go beyond superficial interactions. As Dr. Ivan Misner explains, “Networking is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Benefits Of Networking

? Access to opportunities: The connections you build can lead to introductions, referrals and recommendations that propel your career or business forward. For example, I found many of my best investors while networking, and I used that moment to share something that would help them achieve their financial milestones.

I've noticed that a common mistake individuals make during networking is they try to generate opportunities by selling to the room rather than through the room. In my experience, you always gain more opportunities when you use the room you are in for networking just to build your trust curve rather than using it as a cold-selling opportunity.

? Knowledge sharing and support: By connecting with professionals from diverse industries and backgrounds, you can gain insights and different perspectives. Engaging in conversations can spark new ideas, challenge your thinking and broaden your horizons. And the support system of like-minded professionals you meet can also offer mentorship and guidance during difficult times.

? Visibility and credibility: Attending events and conferences can help establish you as a thought leader. As you build relationships and establish your reputation, others may seek you out for advice and collaboration.

? Personal and professional growth: Through networking, you can develop essential skills such as relationship-building. It also pushes you out of your comfort zone and helps you develop a broader perspective.

Through networking, I was able to discover my true potential. As it is often said, "You are the average of top five people around you," and "The people you spend the most time with shape who you are." I was a complete introvert and never believed I could speak and mentor a crowd until one day, I met a friend at a networking event, and he told me how he felt I could be a good speaker and mentor. Today, I am a speaker in international forums, and that person became my business partner.

Important Points To Remember

Here are some key points that are crucial for successful networking.

1. It's about relationship cultivation.

It is crucial to focus on building genuine relationships rather than solely seeking immediate gain. This approach not only brings in long-term business but also instills a strong culture within the business itself.

A strategy that has worked excellently for me—especially with high net-worth individuals or successful business owners who are difficult to establish a relationship with as they often aren't able to share more than 30 seconds with you—is to highlight one of their struggles from their early days and relate it with your journey, and tell them how key it is for you to have them as a mentor. This allows you to connect with them and develop a relationship for the mentorship process.

Want to know more? Head on over to the full article here for more ideas and perspectives. Afterwards, why not drop me an email to share your thoughts at [email protected]; or call me on 0467 749 378.

Thanks,

Robert