Four Tips For Effective Business Networking

I encountered an article earlier that talks about “Four Tips For Effective Business Networking” and here are some of it:

Business networking is about connecting not just with potential customers or clients, but also with other people who may recommend business to you or mention your name positively to people they know. It also entails networking with individuals who provide information or training, and it can be a great way to effectively find your way to the top.

Virtually everyone is networking—whether via emails, phone calls, instant messages or physical meetings. How intentional you are about building your network determines if it will develop into something that positively influences lives and produces great results. This is where “social intelligence” comes in.

These four tips can help you authentically and consistently grow your network:

1. Set goals.

Every single time you set out for an event that has networking potential—a business meeting, a conference, etc.— you want to attend with deliberately fixed intentions. Knowing this, you must prepare and set yourself up for success. What does this mean? It means do your research! What makes the people you’re meeting with tick? How are your skills of benefit to them? What do they lack? How can you penetrate their circles?

Wherever you go, there is the potential that someone there could be potential venture capitalists or investors, mentors, employers or partners, so you need to have your elevator pitch raring to go. Simply put: Know your network goals and know exactly what to say when the right moment arises.

2. Ask questions, listen and observe.

When you meet someone for the first time, ask a ton of open-ended questions and, even more importantly, listen with your ears?and?your eyes. Open-ended questions leave room for the person you’re speaking with to express themselves in more ways than one. This is a great tack to take especially if you are an introvert or an ambivert. Once you’ve got this person talking, focus on actually hearing what they’re saying and maybe even what they’re not saying. Observe their body language as this can also give you insight into their personality.

3. Be relevant.

Ensure that you establish your potential relevance when you meet them. Here’s an example: A friend of mine wanted to get the attention of a popular business consultant and motivational speaker, but with so many people wanting to do the same, it was hard to reach the speaker. One day, my friend asked himself, "What can I do to be relevant to this guy?" He then observed that the speaker never had recordings of his speaking engagements and so he decided to take this task on himself and burn the recordings onto CDs so his audience could have the recordings and listen to the presentation again. When my friend started doing this, he didn't need to reach out—the speaker reached out to him because he provided value and therefore had become relevant.

4. Follow up.

Meeting someone is not the same as connecting with that person. The initial point of contact is a meeting; what happens afterward builds a connection. Following up with a person you meet is literally the only way to establish a relationship. First off, always remember to open the channels of communication; get their email or phone number and ascertain their preferred method of communication. It really is powerful and beneficial to follow up; I recently connected with a CEO and HR manager of a well-known company. They gave me their card after we had enjoyed a wonderful day together, talking and laughing. My first move upon getting into my car was to get out my phone, save the number and send a text saying "Thank you, this meeting was quite creative and inspiring. I'm looking forward to the partnership as discussed. I'm grateful." The reply was “That was fast! You know the game. Well done, Akin.”

In summary, a network with a purpose is extremely valuable and the purpose is to connect with people who need services and those who can give you referrals. Never disregard the fact that in order to have a proper network, we must connect with people.

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

Thanks,

Robert