The Disadvantages of Business Networking
Miguel ángel Reyes Riera ??
CEO of GBO, Your Business Club with a Human Touch!
Business Networking is an incredible tool. A must for every business man and woman, I would say. It is so powerful that all entrepreneurs should consider it as one of their top priorities.
But it also comes with disadvantages that we need to know and understand as an essential part of unleashing all the value of this unique tool. It takes time, it may not be effective, it is expensive, and it requires dedication. Let's cover it with a bit more detail.
Time
Business networking is a long-term game. If you are looking for short-term results, in which you can get extraordinary results by investing very little time, you are in the wrong place. One of the primary outcomes we expect when networking is to build genuine, long-lasting relationships with other business owners and professionals, which in the end, will bring us some benefit, be it personal, professional, or both. That is not a task that can be completed fast, so time limitations are one of the main obstacles to productive business networking.
Money
Yes, you need to spend money. There are meetings to attend, transportation to pay, even maybe accommodation. However, it would be best to consider this an investment: The money you spend on networking can be outweighed by what you make back. Through networking, you may find new customers, suppliers, business partners, and even employees. Not to mention, your relationships with other business professionals can provide opportunities for referrals and joint ventures, support you with your challenges, or end up in very positive friendships.
Effort
Networking is not an easy task. You need to attend networking events, where you will meet new people and start to build relationships, then you need to follow up with the people you meet and stay regularly connected, meeting face-to-face when possible. And all that, while sharing, listening, and being selfless in your interactions, giving without asking or expecting anything in return, and being ready to help others when support is requested.
Sometimes, it is also good to showcase your expertise in a webinar or live talk, and that needs dedication, preparation, and exposure.
Comfort Zone
Business networking usually compels you to exit your comfort zone. As a business owner, in your day-by-day, you typically deal with employees, clients, partners, suppliers, direct reports, but not so much with peers, with other business owners like yourself, who share your same concerns and challenges. So business networking usually necessitates you to enlarge your sphere, meet people you ordinarily would not be interacting with, and as a result, be ready to learn new things and to understand better how other businesses work.
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False security
When you are in a networking community, one of your targets is to build trust and surround yourself with professionals you can rely on. But sometimes... things just do not go as expected, and you may find that someone could prove not to be trustworthy. You need to be cautious not to get carried away by the false security this close network brings, and always look out for signals of alert. After all, networking is about building human relationships, and unfortunately, that can be tricky to do sometimes!
It is not about burning bridges but being alert. Do not let your guard down and take the opportunity to analyze people and know who you can trust and who you can't.
Disappointment
As with any other thing in life, managing expectations is utterly important. So before you put time, money, and effort into business networking, be very stark of what you can expect from it and, most importantly, when you can expect it. This will avoid disappointments and discomfort when it all does not work out as you expected.
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I am a strong believer in networking and reckon the benefits of business networking clearly outweigh the disadvantages, but when you know that a coin has two sides, you are in a better position to handle what comes your way. So, if you aren't still an active networker, go on, give it a try. And let me know how it goes!
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Founder & CEO @ CPMmatters | Financial Processes Improvement Expert
2 年Very interesting article, with an appealing title... good combination! Regards.
Insightful Miguel ángel Reyes Riera. As you have mentioned, networking implies a long-term investment with little immediate return. But it is the basis for a relationship of trust, as life itself is no exception. To those of us who continue to believe in Human Beings, however, it is still a Must. Thanks for sharing.