Strategic Networking

Simply put, Strategic Networking is a process that maximizes the effectiveness of the networking process. Strategic Networking facilitates the heightened personal relationship of “Know Like, and Trust” with the ideal person who is willing to share their expertise whenever you have the need.?

Networking is the exchange of knowledge among trusted members of a networking community in which there exists a mutually perceived level of collegiality where each member of the networking community possesses an enhanced level of mutual understanding that one person will do whatever they can to assist the other.

In essence, the person who is providing assistance is allowing the other person to move along their learning curve - free of charge.

These individuals have a shared willingness or “passion” to freely give their most precious resources, time, and expertise, to understand the needs of the other and explore ways that the one person can apply their knowledge to fulfill the needs of the other.

If the network of the person providing assistance is well nurtured, that person may be willing to introduce the needing individual to another impassioned and knowledgeable member of their network who may be willing to explore how they too can fulfill the needs of the inquiring individual. The more the members of the network are entrusted and knowledgeable, the more willing multiple members of the network will be willing to fulfill the needs of the inquiring party who has been referred by a trusted member of the network.

Phew…

?Doesn’t the above sound like a legal contract?

?Well. In a way it is.

Networking utilizes a robust unwritten agreement between members of a trusted community where;

1. There exists a heightened level of mutual trust and respect between the parties within the community.
2. The established level of trust has progressed to the enhanced stage where the members of the community “Know, Like, and Trust” each other.
3. ?The level of trust in the community has grown so that members of the community have the passion to help each other by freely giving of themselves to improve other members of the community.

Understanding the intensified level of personal relationship that must exist among members of a productive networking community, the relationship among members of the networking community needs to be nurtured and established over a protracted period of time.

Achieving the heightened level of mutual relationship that facilitates effective networking cannot occur in an instant and between strangers. The extended amount of time that it takes to establish a trusted relationship is counter to the human need for instant gratification when an individual’s needs require resolution.

Trusted relationships between Networking Partners almost always require a significant length of time to be established and nurtured so that effective networking can occur. It takes a lengthy period of time to discover, cultivate, and establish relationships among effective Networking Partners. Given this prolonged period of time, the decision of whom to select and nurture to become a Networking Partner needs to be established before the need to utilize the expertise of a Networking Partner arises.

Strategic Networking is dependent upon establishing a trusted relationship with people whose expertise you perceive to be needed in the future.

?However, there are a few questions that should be discussed as you build your network.

• When do you begin establishing trusted relationships with Networking Partners?
• How do you know with whom you should be establishing a networking relationship?
• How do you establish a trusted networking relationship with a Networking Partner?

The answers to these questions will be discussed during our second June Newsletter and our two Newsletters in July.

In our next Newsletter, we will be presenting strategies to determine when to establish trusted relationships with Networking Partners. ???