Great Networkers Are Like Elite Athletes

Sport and Catena: the formula was always going to be part of my strategy for developing the network. But it’s gone even better than I first imagined. We held one of our most recent Nottingham events at the impressive National Water Sports Centre in Holme Pierrepont Country Park. Its sister venues, Bisham Abbey and Lilleshall are also members and training centres for elite athletes and I'm delighted that we have other top sports venues as Catena members. But while elite athletes have an understandably glamorous reputation, there’s a not so glamorous but very important side to what they do which reminds me of business networking…. In sport, the end result is the win and the high-profile achievement. But that only comes after years and years of hard training, planning and effort. I think that’s very like the story behind successful businesses. On the outside, it often looks like a simple progression of success and growth, when in fact a great deal of hard work and strategising has gone on behind the scenes! It’s that vital “combination of strategy and tactics”, as this article puts it so accurately.

I think that what Catena offers is a kind of elite networking – not in an excluding or “feeling superior” kind of way. But in how we aim to be part of that long-term journey towards business growth by supporting business relationships and helping them transform into opportunities. Because, as our sporting friends prove time and time again, creating results takes a long time and getting to the right point in your strategy takes a network of high calibre people on your side. So, instead of simply putting on networking events, at Catena we’re constantly working to actively bring people together to generate good connections and create results.  But of course, our support means nothing without the effort of our members. We’re really delighted with the dedication of so many of our members who have grown their businesses as the network has grown. They continually put the effort and hours into getting to the result they want - in the same way that elite sportspeople focus, train and compete to achieve their goals. It’s these “networking athletes” who help make Catena a great network. And it’s this kind of dedication to building good connections which makes businesses successful in the long-term game that is business!

Claire Bicknell, Catena