Sustained focused effort does not mean delivering a full-blown sales pitch to every person you meet, and plastering your brochures all around the hotel lobby. Within most networks people tend to have a few close and trusted connections. It explores theoretical applied questions that have direct benefits for industry, government and society as a whole. Delays are particularly useful for making introductions. There is a fine dividing line between the two behaviours, and positioning too many people/companies in the competitor camp can make life unnecessarily difficult. Always carry a pen. Some commentators/writers refer to 'hard contact' and 'soft contact' networking groups, and to the 'hard contacts', and 'soft contacts' within such groups. (The fish represents your aims, for example sales achieved, or new clients.). For example try to see your competitors as potential allies. Continue to refine and adapt these statements. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive tips on networking, public speaking and business. Networking connections which produce this effect are valuable and desirable, so look out for them, and try to build a network which contains these sorts of connections, especially where it strengthens your market offering. You should also be continuously open to unplanned networking opportunities, which can arise at any time. for your aims and capabilities - ideally remembering that you need to be able to help them, as well as they should be able to help you. Topics. People who use networking can be employees, self-employed, owner-managers - any role, any level, and any specialism. Be helpful to others and you will be helped in return. Some of the most important connections are not business people, and consequently you need to be creative in reaching them. Develop slightly different descriptions of yourself for different situations - so that you are as relevant as possible. Networking only produces good results when it is followed up. Please send yours, with any tips and pointers you'd like to offer. So is, to an extent, the notion that "It's not what you know; it's who you know..". Networking thus can extend far beyond simply having lots of random Give to receive. After your 'elevator speech' end in a firm, positive, constructive way. Some say it's bad Karma to speak ill of another. Seek and take opportunities to make a positive difference towards a positive aim (of anyone's) wherever you can - even if some of these opportunities are unpaid and unrewarded in conventional terms. Cybernetics provides one interesting and useful way to understand how best to approach this. If you find that your networking is producing very low opportunities for follow up and referral, try to improve your targeting. The word network first appeared in English around 1560. Ask a leading member for pointers. and "What can I do for you? opportunities exist for getting involved. After giving your elevator speech avoid the temptation to force your business card onto the other person (unless this is the tone and expectation of the event), and certainly do not launch a full-blooded sales pitch. Many of these networking situations are simply opportunities to meet people relevant to your aims, when your initiative and creativity can turn vague potential into worthwhile networking. Businessballs Ltd assumes no responsibility for any errors or damages arising as a result of use. Networking is about building a wide and relevant network of meaningful contacts - not just having lots of one-to-one meetings. You might be chasing the wrong groups and connections, and could need to redefine these Stand up for what's right and protect less strong people from wrong, especially where you see bullying, cruelty, discrimination, meanness, etc. As with any project, you will only move towards your aim when you keep focused on that aim. The sales training and marketing sections Again there are usually coffee breaks which are ideal for making introductions and getting to know people. Aim high. The old expression is generally true: "You can tell a man by the company he keeps..." (Or woman of course.). The group met twice, in January and June, in the course of 2020. There is often not much difference - just a frame of mind. For all networking opportunities, your success is dependent on the relevance of the situation and the quality and energy of your involvement. Saying negative things at the expense of another person brings everyone down. The word network is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary (2005 revised edition) as: "Network (noun) 1 An arrangement of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines... 2 A group or system of interconnected people or things... (verb) Provides knowledge that managers need to implement information systems on time and within budget. The world can be a dark and contentious place. very relevant to business. The use of this material is free for self-development, developing others, research, and organizational improvement. Synergy between two providers (even competitors) can produce exciting new service propositions, enabling providers to work as associates or through more formal partnership. These enabling capabilities Express what you offer in terms of positive outcomes Try to find and present within your specialism the most helpful information for the group concerned. Be realistic of course, but aim to be the best and to lead in some way, in whatever specialisms and market-place you operate. It depends Be confident, positive and enthusiastic, but do not let this develop into pressure on the audience, or a sense of your trying too hard. is genuine arrogance, you would be sensible to find a different group.). for small businesses who can form strategic alliances with like-minded competitors to take a joint-offering to a market and compete for bigger contracts. imaginable, for example linkedin.com. Anyone can set up a networking event, so you can find isolated or more permanent networking operations cropping up at a town near you. Twitter is the obvious example. Many user groups are highly specialised, and by implication, internet The L-Card lets you keep all your business cards on file and update your own on other people's contact list. Business networking clubs and websites are full of people with many connections but little of value to offer, and they achieve poor results. You will learn a lot, create new opportunities A BNI Membership is referral networking that works! The communications concepts of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and TA (Transactional Analysis) also The shortened term 'networking' can be confused with computer networking/networks, which is different terminology, relating to connection and accessibility of multiple computer systems. User groups are a further variation of groups found online. Business networking is a form of marketing. Be known as a really positive person. This is particularly so Do not ask "Have you heard of us..?" When you have identified your target groups, there will be a specialist membership website somewhere which represents and brings them together. If you have company shares, especially in a big corporation, you will tend to meet a lot of business people at shareholder gatherings. A given number of people who are connected for a reason will generally be more productive than the same number of random connections. New Thinking for The New Economy. Do you need something better than just passing around business cards and tiny sheets of paper? Visiting a meeting is free. Aim high and big when thinking about and expressing yourself and your aims. If you are able to attend one of these events where the subject is relevant Networkers who meet people and never follow up are wasting their time. The words 'reliable' and 'dependable' do not mean that you are always available to everyone. Obviously a lecture/talk will attract a common grouping of people interested in the subject concerned. This prompts an incidental 'lifestyle' tip - for business networking events where alcohol might be available: drink in moderation and keep a reasonably clear head. Networking has been made much easier with the advent of interactive membership websites. Failing to apologise for wrong-doing often damages a person's integrity and reputation far more than the original misjudgment itself. Networks of people are highly complex - often it is not possible to see exactly how and why they are working for you, so you must trust that goodness is rewarded, even if the process is hidden and the effect takes a while. Some are very formal and tightly run with little networking opportunities, but others are more sociable Identify and target groups and connections which are relevant to your aims and capabilities. appear below in the summary of this article. What goes around comes around.. humankind can't yet explain this scientifically, but it does seem to work. After reviewing every major business, region and activity of the firm, the BSC published a report in January 2011 that included 39 recommendations. The OED defines a networker as "...1 A person who operates from home or an external office via a computer network... 2 A person who uses a network of professional or social contacts to further their career.". Keep your emotional criticisms and personal hang-ups about others to yourself. Here is a simple example for planning and monitoring networking, which extends the elevator speech template above. ", or obviously if you've not already asked: If you already know the other person's interests and motives, for example ask: "How would you like to improve/change/grow... (various options, for example - your own network, your own business activities, this sort of event, etc)?". Many run networking events and/or other meetings and activities which are ideal for networking. See the definitions below in networking situations. 7. Far more than you might imagine. Sharon Drew Morgen's Facilitative Methodology, while primarily developed for selling, is strongly based on working with systems (of people be networking potential. 6. Others are industry or trade specific, and some are geographically focused. 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