Professional Networking
Networking events are great places to source new suppliers, or maybe recruit your next employee, non-executive director, team member, or business partner. Through networking, you can uncover a whole host of new opportunities and contacts, raise your personal profile within your current professional circle and maybe even join a new one. For some people, it’s also a great way to boost self-esteem and confidence. Even if you don’t gain any new clients from your next prospective business circle, you might pick up a few friends along the way.
Worried about having to talk to a room full of strangers? Realistically, you’ve got nothing to lose and you never know what you might achieve unless you try. There will be people just as nervous as you on the day, and if you’re still not sure about going on your own, why not invite one of your clients along to the next event you go to, and go as a pair……just make sure you speak to other people when you’re there!
A great tip for introducing yourself to someone new is look for someone on their own (they look a bit lost, just like you feel), approach them, make eye contact and say: “Hi, I’m Paul. Do you mid if I join you?” The chances are they’ll be both relieved and delighted that someone has spoken to them and that they’re not stood on their own anymore, that of course they won’t mind if you join them. You just networked!
Why not give yourself just a small goal for your first event? For example, introduce myself to 3 strangers and get 3 business cards.
According to professional networking guru Rob Brown*, there is a direct correlation between your networking activity and your success if you do it right! There are many benefits of networking, but here are Rob’s top 20:
1. Improve your self confidence and self esteem.
2. Source great suppliers or advisers.
3. Make your mark in a new role or territory.
4. Enjoy the challenge, the adrenalin kick and thrill of winning new business!
5. Learn new ideas, industry tips and insider trends & information.
6. Scout the competition; see who your rivals are and what they’re doing.
7. Maintain and ‘go deeper’ with your existing contacts, clients and colleagues.
8. Develop ‘referral networks’ by educating your contacts in exactly what you’re looking for.
9. Meet new friends or gain a support system – business can be lonely!
10. Develop leadership skills.
11. Locate new joint venture partners or strategic alliances.
12. Uncover new business opportunities.
13. Make more profits and more money!
14. Meet or exceed targets for bonuses, commissions or equity.
15. Keep your boss off your back!
16. Safeguard your job and make you ‘un-fireable’ in tough economic times.
17. Recruit your next employee, non-executive director, team member or specialist professional.
18. Raise your personal profile.
19. Source mentors and gurus who can cut your learning curve to where you want to go.
20. Have fun – it’s good getting out of the office to meet new and interesting people!
So what’s stopping you from getting out there when all of these wonderful goodies are available to you? Get yourself booked onto something soon, and remember that everyone you know with a great network, lots of contacts and an abundance of networking skills didn’t get like that overnight. If you want to reap in the summer, you sow the spring, happy networking!
* Rob Brown in the founder of the ‘members only’ TRIP System, which he describes as a unique business-winning resource with premium ideas, coaching and strategy to help you network better, generate more referrals and raise your personal reputation so that people come to you first. For more information, go to www.thetripsystem.com.