Networking: Expectations vs Intentions
Networking, is one of those things that even for a veteran like myself I have to pump myself up! I have to tell myself in the car how fun its going to be and listen to my favorite jams. Once I get there I am typically good, and if I get there and the event is not for me. I jet with out regrets. Networking is a necessary evil of being in business, you must network to meet people, you must know people to grow your business. Its a cycle and you have to play a role in it. However, networking gets a bad rap because 9 times out of 10, you are walking into an event expecting to make big money and HIGHLY disappointed when you walk out and don't! One of the workshops I teach is on networking. We cover pitching, how to work the room, identifying events for you, escaping with grace, and ghosting. I am a professional ghoster, take my workshop and I'll tell you about it! Anyway, there are 3 types of networking events that effect your expectations and your intentions. Your intention should always be that the universe will align and you will meet whoever it is your destined to meet. Your expectation should be defined by the kind of event you are attending.
There are three types of events passion driven, client drive and collaborative partner driven.
Passion driven events are events that you attend that fill your soul. You leave feeling energized, connected, ecstatic. You gained something and you may not have given anything and you may not have met anyone but you feel full. Passion driven events are what fuel your soul to keep going. It could be work out class, an event, a gala, walking animal shelter dogs. Whatever it is you are doing it for you regardless if someone told you, that your target market is there or not remember that event is for you. Your intention and your expectation align and it is you will meet who you are destined to meet. This event is all about you.
Collaborative Partner events are events where you will meet other people who you can work with, send business to and receive business from, these are the people that you can rely on! They may become your mastermind, share newsletters, split a vendor table or grab happy hour. Collaborative partners are the people in business who target the same revenue generating target market that you do. This event may be an entrepreneurial hang out, a traditional networking meeting, a grand opening of a business etc Its wherever you see parallels between you and the people around you. You don't sell macaroni and cheese but you make the best fried chicken in town and you know your buyer wants both - collaborative partner has been found.
Client Driven events are not either of the above and they most likely don't fuel you nor will you find collaborative partners but what you will find is people need your solution. If I am the seller of Gatorade I'm going to either start running and rock 5k or I'm going to get a table or do a sponsorship so I can get access to the attendees, My expectation is I will make new friends, my intention is that I will spread the word about the solutions I provide. These events look different than a collaborative partner event, these events are crawling with your market and the most emails you can collect the more engaged with your consumer you can become. You are a resource and a wealth of information don't be afraid to share it!
Its important to be very clear on what you bring to the table and expect to receive at each event! There are 3 pitches that need to be created as well and 21 characteristics that identify out your buyer so you can see and know where they are at! You also need to be very clear on their pain points and the solutions you provide. I'd love to work through any of these with you and hope this helps!!