Hello!
A lot of emphasis has been placed on Networking as a means of growing your business. However, I read this article by MaryEllen Tribby and want to share it with you below. Please leave your comments and opinions after reading. I wish you insightful reading!
Most business owners and professionals know that developing key relationships and partnerships within their community plays a pivotal role in their success and their business' success. This is probably why, today, so many people are turning to networking as a means to making new connections.
People consider networking an important step to gaining success. But, I disagree. In fact, I've started to wonder if networking really gains you any success in terms of business. Setting out to gain a contact, or merely to get a new business card, seems pointless to me. And, making a contact only to see how they can serve me seems cold and sterile.
When I meet a new contact for my business, my goal is not to put their information in my address book, it's not to see what they can do for me, and it's not even to network with them. It's to make a real connection.
I want to find out who this person truly is and what their business is truly about. I want to find out if our goals and missions are somehow synergetic and if a partnership could actually bring each of us more success.
Making a real connection is not about what can they do for me…it's about how can we both serve each other best. It's about whether each of our purposes align and how can we assist each other's communities in the long term. It's from this place that I have found real deals and partnerships occur.
However, very often, people allow opportunities for valuable partnerships to pass them up. Many people feel intimidated to put themselves out there and hesitate when the right situation comes up. Unfortunately, this discomfort can come across as disinterest rather than fear. And, the very people whom these people meant to connect with may feel the only interest lies in what they can provide rather how they can partner together.
Pushing through these feelings of discomfort is essential in building successful connections. Sure it is uncomfortable, but the money lost will have a much more permanent affect in the long run. Don't let any opportunity pass you by. Eliminate nervousness or intimidation by putting the attention toward the person with whom you want to connect. Ask questions and follow-up. Eventually, connecting will become second-nature and will naturally occur with everyone you meet.
Another important factor is in the quality of the connections you make. You may know lots of people. But, if these acquaintances are not creating results for your business then there is no monetary value in their connection to you. Are your business connections people who you can call on when you need someone to introduce you to a new market or the big players in that market? If not, it may be time to re-evaluate your process for establishing new connections.
Making key connections means having real relationships with influential people whom you can call on for help and that you serve some purpose to in return, as well.
Not this kind of "I'll call you when I need something" relationship. This will never work.
For example, let's say you have the contact information for the CEO at Big Brand Manufacturing. But, you have not spoken to him since you met him at a luncheon a year ago. This person is of no value to you and your business. If you want to start a new business venture and need some promotional items made, it is doubtful this person will give you the big "friend-discount" you might want.
Not only must you create a genuine partnership with them, but for your contacts to be of any value to your business, you must learn to be of value to theirs.
I am a Social Media Marketing Strategist and Facebook Marketing Expert, a business coach, seminar resource person, published and serial entrepreneur. I help businesses to get extraordinary results from their marketing campaign thus ensuring steady increase in their incomes.
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