Get Networking

I would like you to imagine for a minute, what a power grid looks like. Then as you think about it, imagine several points of connection on the power grid, and then imagine those points light up like little pin heads in a mesh of wires that connect the grid. Your network should be the same and you should have a network from which you draw power to advance your career or business. The pin heads represent valuable resources within your network.

Networking is a skill you must use as much as you can for the advancement of your career or business. It involves interacting with people to exchange information, establish contacts and negotiate. Wikipedia describes business networking as a socioeconomic activity where groups of like-minded business people recognize, create or act upon business opportunities. I like that definition. A very important note is to look for like-minded people.  How do you find them? Linkedin for one plays a role by bringing to us connections that are similar to ours. That's a good place to start. However, nothing beats face-to-face interaction. There are many places you can interact with like-minded people. For example, golf slowly became the rage around the 90's and many people to date have played the game for networking purposes. Here is something to consider when you are networking. People are your building blocks and just like you select your friends wisely, you should also build your networks carefully and strategically. There are several advantages and needs for a network; among the reasons people network are to find a job, expanding a client base, build business partnerships or to find better employees.

Out with the theory; in with reality!

That is much easier said than done for some people. Psychologists have time and again tried to explain the human psyche by examining different personalities and trying to describe them. Beginning with Hippocrates four temperaments or  four humors; the sanguine (optimistic leader), choleric (bad-tempered or irritable), melancholic (logical thinker and quiet) and phlegmatic (relaxed and simple). Some temperaments are more outgoing than others. You don't expect a melancholic or phlegmatic to be the life of the party. However, as psychologists have continued to study people more, we have discovered that people's personalities, though they may have some fundamental permanent markers that serve as the DNA of the personality, can change. In other words behavior can be learned. The reason I am pointing this out, is there are some people who find it just impossible to network and make friends. Networking events seem like their first day in school replayed over and over again. Sadly, this is true for a large section of the population. Does this mean they cannot develop the skills necessary for networking? Hardly! I am speaking to introverts right now. Here are few tips to help you along the way.

Opening up the conversation

I will begin with asking a question. What about you would you like potential business partners, clients or future employers to know about you in the first instance they meet you? You make an impression in the first few minutes of meeting someone. You better make sure you are coming across the way you want them to remember you.  Develop an elevator speech. An elevator speech is a quick statement you make that describes what you do and offers your prospect a value proposition. In other words, your prospect must understand what you do and see what is in it for them within a few minutes in order to get something out of the interaction.

First Impression vs lingering impressions

However before that, you must also be conscientious about other aspects that make an impression such as the way you look and also, the tools you use must reflect the image you want. So what can you do before the elevator speech comes out of your mouth? For example, your business card should say what you do without a lot of clutter, it also needs to stand out; otherwise how quickly will your prospect be able to pull out your card from a pile? So enhance your business card. It will be much easier to remember and find a yellow card, than a white one.

Get your foot in the door

Volunteering is a great way to get into great networking circles. Being assigned tasks especially administrative ones opens you up to a database of potential prospects. Aim for positions that will ensure you are in constant communication with members of the network. You can go ahead and organize the event yourself if need be. This also provides you the opportunity to showcase your skills to your prospects.

The early bird catches the worm

If you are one of those people that doesn't like big crowds, then make it a point to arrive early at networking events. This provides you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the environment. It also allows you to begin interacting with a smaller group of people and in turn you get more comfortable even as the crowd gets larger.

Set goals

Large crowds can be overwhelming. To make the situation more navigable, set goals. Determine what your objectives are. If you are looking to get new contacts, decide how many people you will talk to and leave. If you are looking for particular people, find them and leave. You don't have to stay through a whole session if you meet your objectives quickly.

Be interested

Listen hard. This is where introverts out do extroverts. When you attend these events you are not going to close sales. You shouldn't expect to come out with an order. Make some small conversation about why they came to the event. Ask them about what they do. You can also venture a little into personal matters like family and so on and so forth. Two or three effective discussions are a whole lot better than 20 business cards of people who could not care less about you and vice versa.

Follow up and connect

Make sure you follow up; make calls or send an email. You should also look for your prospects on social media and connect. As you build your network ensure you also have a presence on popular social media platforms for continued engagement. Social media is also a very effective tool for making hundreds of connections. You should make connections in person and in the digital world as well.

In conclusion, your network is only as valuable as your relationships. Networking is about building relationships and keeping the connections alive. Put yourself out there and begin making connections right away, you will find golden nuggets hidden in the networking world.

Darshan Chandaria