Do you go to networking meetings but find it all a waste of time?
- Are the meetings full of people trying to sell you stuff?
- Are the people in the room in the wrong business for you?
- Unsure what to say when people ask what you do?
- Do you find that nothing comes out of any of the people you meet?
Before you give up on it all, here are a few things you should know….
- Networking doesn’t have to mean "networking events". At its most basic level it can simply be a group of like-minded people getting together to discuss the day-to-day issues of running a business. For example, it can be an informal group of like minded friends. You don’t have to write a big cheque for a years membership.
- The real networking happens outside of networking events. If you meet someone you’d like to connect with, swap business cards and be sure to set a date to meet up for a coffee. And be patient! If you’ve only met once before, it may take several months till business follows. Make sure you follow up!
- There are networking meetings specific to every industry and every size of business. Ask yourself whether you are meeting with the right kind of people. If you’re a management consultant to large businesses, a group comprising of builders, plumbers and other tradesmen may not be right for you.
- Networking should online as well as offline. You could be continuing your conversation with the people you meet on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- To become a successful networker is a skill in itself. Sign up to a networking skills course (something we offer), where you can learn how to identify the right networking events, the right people to talk to, and how best to converse with people you’ve never met before.
Like to find out more about networking?
Tune in to 101.4FM this Friday at 10.30AM where I’ll be on WhosTheBoss.fm answering questions about how networking can help your business. If you can’t make the show, you can download the podcast afterwards on www.whostheboss.fm/category/listen-again/
