From time to time , I am asked by clients or organizations to speak on various topics.  This week I have the privilege of speaking to a local university’s medical center staff on Networking Skills.  Preparing for the program really got me thinking about the relationships I have cultivated and  nurtured over the years.  I have always been fairly good at relationship building, but it wasn’t until I became a business owner that I really understood the value of networking.  Networking is about helping other people get what they need.  It’s about sharing both your knowledge, expertise  and connections to help others be successful.  It is not about “what’s in it for me” nor is it a “quid pro quo”, mentality, but the rewards are generally plentiful and often surprising.  Through networking, I have gotten job opportunities, found new clients,  taken classes, made new friends, explored new hobbies, found service providers and traveled to some interesting destinations ( including Costa Rica, Hawaii & possibly to Europe in the near future).  And now that I am in the market for a dog …!! arff arff, I am sure my networking connections will help me find the perfect new pup.

So in the spirit of growing your network, I wanted to share with you my Seven Strategies to Networking Success.  Whether you are looking for a job, trying to grow a business or just increase your professional connections, these Seven Tips can help you along the way.  Enjoy!

1.  Be Yourself / Authentic
Remember you are your personal brand.  People want to do business with (or help) people who are “real” or authentic. They do not want to do business with phony people.  When you come across as authentic , building trust and developing solid relationships occurs more easily.

2. Be Approachable
Be conscious of your body language, facial expressions (SMILE!!) and your attitude.  Find a CPI  (common point of interest) and connect with people on a friendly and personal level.

3. Be Visible & Make it Fun
Get out of your office/home and meet people. Choose  venues that you enjoy (live networking events, social media, volunteering, social gatherings) to make the process more comfortable and fun.

4. Be Helpful
Develop a “give first attitude.”  What can you do for others?When you give of yourself first, you will reap infinite returns.

5. Be Clear on Your Purpose
Know what you are looking to get out of the networking process. Is it education, contacts, job leads, sales leads, volunteer opportunities?  This will help you be prepared and maximize your experience.

6. Be Prepared
How will you present yourself?  Create a 30 second personal commercial that will help you communicate effectively the information you want to share.  Bring your tools (business cards, info collateral).

7. Follow Up & Follow Through
Follow up quickly when you make an connection, Stay connected with people you really want to cultivate relationships with.   If you offer to help by sending information or making an introduction do it!

Tags: job hunting, jobs, Networking, Professional Connections

This entry was posted on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 4:50 pm and is filed under Coaching. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.