Your Ultimate Check List for Successful Networking

"I hate networking."

This is something we frequently hear from executives, other professionals, and MBA students. They claim that networking makes them feel uneasy, phony, and even dirty. However, in today's world, networking is a must to scale your business. I am a huge believer in the co-elevation of people. I truly believe that professional networks lead to more job and business prospects, broader and deeper knowledge, enhanced capacity to innovate, faster progression, and even develop your personal growth. Building and maintaining professional relationships enhance work quality and promotes job satisfaction.

However, sometimes we can overthink the concept of networking. There is a subtle art to it, but there are some simple fundamentals, that when mastered can make networking seamless and highly successful. Make sure to check all this list in order to have successful networking:

1. Pick somebody within or outside of your organization that you admire. Find someone who has what you want, whether it be their career, relationships, or accomplishments.
2. Send them an email, express admiration, and congratulate them.?Flattery never hurts when approaching someone for the first time, just don’t go overboard with it
3. Ask the person to have coffee or lunch with you. It’s good to have an extended conversation over food or something enjoyable, like coffee or your favorite lunch.
4. Come prepared with smart questions. Plan what you would like to get out of the meeting and how you would like it to go. Just like what my good friend Tony Robbins said, “Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.”

Apply these steps to build your next connection and let me know how it goes.