Premature Solicitation Is A Reputation Killer
Marce Colucci
Sub70 SSDR & Microlight Fanatic. Helping budding pilots fly & own aircraft economically. Flight training and experiences
Are you guilty of premature solicitation?
What do I mean by this? Think about going into a network meeting or a business gathering with the purpose of networking. You spot someone that you know has a connection to a person you really want to speak with. You walk up to this person but they don’t really know you, if at all. You introduce yourself, then ask them if they would give you a referral to 'so and so' because you think your product could really help them out. The person may politely say they’ll try, or if they’re more professional may ask you your name and go through a proper introduction. Worst case they’ll just tell you to get lost. But you will have lost credibility and the chance to ever build a relationship with that person. And you will have damaged your reputation.
This is premature solicitation.
You may have been guilty of this behaviour yourself or more likely you will have been a victim of it. This example is not networking - this is direct selling, and it’s bad direct selling. It’s off-putting and unprofessional. Networking is not about hunting - it’s about farming. It’s about cultivating relationships with other business professionals.
If it’s somebody you have a relationship with, that you trust, that you’ve done business with, if you know them and they know you, then they will be more willing to put you together with their contacts. When you give a referral, you give a little bit of your reputation away. If you give a good referral, it enhances your reputation. If you give a bad referral, it hurts your reputation, and so you don’t want to give those kinds of referrals away. As professional networkers, we should understand that it’s all about building relationships. For people that haven’t engaged in this kind of networking - where you’re going deep in relationship building, they’re out there hunting.
Don’t engage in premature solicitation. You’ll be a better networker if you remember that. And if you’re a victim of it, invite the person to arrange a proper 1-1 with you so you can get to know them properly and understand better how and to whom you can refer them.
Governance Specialist, EPMO, New York Power Authority (NYPA)
6 年This applies online as well as in person. Another reason to check in regularly and get to know your connections. It’s work, yet it’s supremely important.
Business Storyteller for Tech & B2B companies I Content Marketer I Story alchemist I Empowering technical and B2B companies to win better clients through story-driven content marketing. You're the hero. I'm the guide.
6 年I really like this article Marce. Premature solicitation most definitely compromises the person being asked for a connection or referral and damages relationships irrevocably. So many people don’t understand the power of networking and you have summed it up beautifully through this article.
Removals & Storage
8 年Why have you used a Black man to illustrate this point???
Helping you live the life you want
9 年Hear! Hear!
Sub70 SSDR & Microlight Fanatic. Helping budding pilots fly & own aircraft economically. Flight training and experiences
9 年Thanks to everyone who commented. There is a difference between the way men and women network. Knowing these differences can help us build better relationships. I'll be posting another article on this topic soon.