Are We Losing Sight ?
RANT ALERT!
It's been an interesting year this year with business networking groups adapting to hosting meetings on line.
We've also seen an increase in business owners joining business networks as it's far more accessible and, in some cases, affordable to attend the meetings, but are we losing sight of what networking is about ?
I have attended a number of network groups across the UK since Boris made his announcement and it's been interesting seeing how people have adapted and lovely to meet fellow networkers across the country.
However....... why is it that people feel they can connect and then bombard you with their marketing literature and information. Would you really meet someone in a face to face networking event and then force your brochure and business card in their hand ? So why do people think it's acceptable to do this digitally ?
Networking is about listening and I see many people switching off until their turn to talk. I understand some people have internet or bandwidth issues, especially when young people are sharing the home internet, but some people just get up and cook food or just carry on working at the same time. I wonder whether they would do that in a room of other business professionals.
I deliberately wear headphones so visually I'm listening and yet you see people switch their cameras off when a guest speaker talks or it's their turn to talk. It's like "it's not my turn so I'm not interested in anything or anyone else" or "it's all about me".
I saw an interesting post from someone a network with that was straight to the point. Why would you connect on Linked In and then bombard someone with information that they may not even need. It's like forcing marriage on someone you've just met in a bar - it's just doesn't work!
If you want to network on line, then here are my thoughts:
a) Not everyone is in the market for your products or services NOW! Understand it's about growing relationships and learning from each other. Business opportunities will come in time, but people need to get to know you first before you bombard them!
b) Your professional reputation is being judged by your actions on line and by not listening to others or turning your cameras off you are being seen to be disengaged. Most network meetings are an hour and if you can't disengage for an hour to respect others, then think again. It's important you engage.
c) Don't try and sell on the first connection. I'm personally not interested in being bombarded with digital junk when I don't need it.
Networking is about forming relationships for the long term, not for that quick take and run.
RANT OVER!
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4 å¹´I agree with you Simon. For balance though, what I would say is that having worked in the corporate world (admittedly pre-Covid) one of the most refreshing things about networking in with small businesses is that although there's a minority who are disengaged on many calls, it is a small minority and most attendees are listening with cameras on. I put that down to the fact that we're all there because we see a benefit in being there (either we feel our business will benefit or we want to because we're actually enjoying it). Too many people in large organisations are just there because the "have to be" As for the selling bit, well some people are just a bit tone-deaf I guess!! If they weren't I wouldn't get so many people connecting with me here only to immediately follow up with a sales message...
Managing Director at Rightmove
4 å¹´Very relevant Simon - waaay too much of this going on right now. My personal biggest gripe right now, is a connection request accepted, followed by instantaneous marketing auto-response.