The Value of Human connection

I often get asked “how do I build relationships and generate referrals that lead to the growth of my business?” The answer is that I nurture and care for people and give without wanting back. Is that something that I have learnt due to networking or is that intrinsically part of me and my upbringing?

I personally think that culturally how I have been raised has always been about giving before receiving. This kindness or desire to help others has not always served me well, sometimes in the past it has resulted in me feeling quite exhausted and drained. This has itself led me on to discovering the importance of self-care (the topic of my next post!)

What else do I do to achieve success for myself and my clients? I strive to provide the first class service that I would want from an adviser if I had one. Yes, putting the needs of your clients as highly as your own, really does generate the best outcomes.

Yes, I am my own advisor now, but I know what bad advice feels like. When I was 19, I stumbled across my first experience of getting an advisor. I recall it clearly as a very confusing encounter and one that resulted in me making some bad choices. Those choices and how they panned out over time have now potentially made me the sympathetic advisor I am.

I always believe that out of every bad experience, you must always tweak out the positives and with that positivity you can move forwards and grow.

Shine bright and appreciate grateful clients

Asking for referrals is a difficult task and always has been for many of us in business. But I feel once you believe in yourself and the service you are providing, you should feel strength in asking for a referral, as you should be proud of what you are offering and the difference you can make to peoples’ lives. In my experience, clients are always delighted to vouch for your services if you have delivered above and beyond.

Getting feedback and testimonials is a great way of showing how you care about your clients. Don’t be frightened of doing this (boasting can be good for the soul and business!) A testimonial is also a great way of showing others how you work with your clients.

Networking – Face to face connection is a great business tool

Over the years I have joined many networking groups and truly have built most of my business via face to face networking. With lockdown, this last year has been a massive change for everyone used to this level of personal connection.

As business owners, we have to be prepared for the unknown and sometimes take a pause to establish our own personal balance and be prepared for what is in front of us. Which is why I was hesitant and yet willing to see how online networking could fill this void.

Going online to a network session was something I never imagined I could or would enjoy in my wildest dreams. But as I’m a person who always who tries to find a positive in every hardship I face, I took a pause and embarked on networking online.

I only did it initially for the human connection, which is my superpower and my energy. Without it I feel incomplete.   In the past, I have written off a few different types of groups, including BNI, simply because it wasn’t working for me at the time. I had the most terrible experience when I joined when I was juggling the care of my 6 month old child. I left the group feeling very low and sad, especially as it hadn’t worked for me and I was giving up valuable time early in the morning after little sleep the night before.

Was it the group or was it my personal environment the led to the decision to leave? The reality is, I think it was both. At that time though, it was the right choice for me, as I needed time to pour more energy into better self-care and family life.

How the past can dictate the future

As we moved into a later stage of lockdown last year, BNI approached me once again. I made the decision to give it another chance, I was reluctant, but craving that human connection that drives business and a sense of purpose. The first Zoom call was a huge success. I met genuine people with real smiles, valuable advice and a positive mindset.

This showed me that, we can sometimes get stuck with a bad experience and never turn it around. But with the right mindset to persevere, what doesn’t suit us now, may be right for us in future.

It’s just the same with financial planning. This needs to be reviewed regularly and you can’t allow past experience to dictate what your future looks like. The truth is, you always have an opportunity to build your future as you see fit.

I never realised how important it is to appreciate your achievements, but when BNI recognised me a couple of weeks ago, as ‘Networker of the Week’, it made me feel special. Did I do anything different? No, I just engaged with people, my favourite thing to, and realised that even in these times, engagement is such an antidote to feeling alone.

This brings me to the point, is it OK to shine and share with your network, or should we still feel as if we should shy away? No, hiding away and limiting our potential is easier than ever in the current climate, but we can’t let the pandemic limit our vision for the future.  Human connectivity is the true secret that allows us to grow and evolve. 

So, if you ever need to connect, or would like any help or support, do get in touch – there’s nothing I would love more!