RSS5 Tips for Effective Networking
Networking is crucial for building business, especially as a new business. People want to work with people they know, like, and trust which means you have to get out there and be social! I am posting a great article by Meggin MacIntosh on tips for networking. I don't know about you, but I can always use more tips.
5 Truths about Networking Effectively...
If You Want to Make a Difference
BY MEGGIN MCINTOSH, PH.D.
THE PRODUCTIVITY PROFESSORTM
There are so many concepts about networking that you probably never learned. You probably never took a class in elementary, middle, or high school about networking - and didn't learn about it in college or graduate school either - at least not in a formal way. It's time to start learning and practicing more effective networking now.
Each of the following "networking need-to-knows" are offered with the idea that you want to increase your ability to make a difference, i.e., to have an impact on others. Consider these ideas and see which ones seem a little bit difficult for you to accept...and then try to test at least one of them out this week. You'll be able to be more successful than you might imagine!!
1. Networking is not optional. Humans are social beings and your work and professional lives involve person-to-person interactions. Networking is one of the ways that you can build relationships.
2. Networking is YOUR responsibility, not anyone else's. Maybe when you were a brand new kid in a classroom, your teacher was responsible for introducing you to other students in the class. I'm assuming that if you are reading this now, you're an adult. So now it's your responsibility to go out and meet and get to know other people.
3. The purpose of networking is for people to get to know you and for you to get to know other people. It's not just one or the other. This means that when you are networking, there must be some give and take. First, you need to learn about the other person (or people) with whom you are interacting. Then, there can be some time where you talk a bit about yourself, your projects, what you're working on, and so forth.
4. Networking is not all about you. If you try to make it so that it is, networking won't work (at least not for long). It's boorish to talk only about yourself, to promote yourself ad nauseum, to blather on and on with no concern whatsoever that there is anyone else present. The people who engage in this sort of boorish behavior are the ones who give networking a bad name.
5. Pay attention to people's body language (and be aware of your own). For example, all human beings have space (proximity) boundaries. This varies by culture, gender, age, family, etc. Take your cues from the other person with whom you are talking. If that person is backing away from you, then maybe you're trying to move in too close. If the person is looking at his/her watch or looking around the room at others who are there, then it's possible that you're getting a signal that it's time to move on. Be sensitive to such clues-and be aware when you might be sending those cues to others.
Find other helpful ideas for yourself and your clients by going to: FromtheDeskofMegginMcIntosh.com
(c) 2008 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Productivity Professor"TM
5 Truths about Networking Effectively...
If You Want to Make a Difference
BY MEGGIN MCINTOSH, PH.D.
THE PRODUCTIVITY PROFESSORTM
There are so many concepts about networking that you probably never learned. You probably never took a class in elementary, middle, or high school about networking - and didn't learn about it in college or graduate school either - at least not in a formal way. It's time to start learning and practicing more effective networking now.
Each of the following "networking need-to-knows" are offered with the idea that you want to increase your ability to make a difference, i.e., to have an impact on others. Consider these ideas and see which ones seem a little bit difficult for you to accept...and then try to test at least one of them out this week. You'll be able to be more successful than you might imagine!!
1. Networking is not optional. Humans are social beings and your work and professional lives involve person-to-person interactions. Networking is one of the ways that you can build relationships.
2. Networking is YOUR responsibility, not anyone else's. Maybe when you were a brand new kid in a classroom, your teacher was responsible for introducing you to other students in the class. I'm assuming that if you are reading this now, you're an adult. So now it's your responsibility to go out and meet and get to know other people.
3. The purpose of networking is for people to get to know you and for you to get to know other people. It's not just one or the other. This means that when you are networking, there must be some give and take. First, you need to learn about the other person (or people) with whom you are interacting. Then, there can be some time where you talk a bit about yourself, your projects, what you're working on, and so forth.
4. Networking is not all about you. If you try to make it so that it is, networking won't work (at least not for long). It's boorish to talk only about yourself, to promote yourself ad nauseum, to blather on and on with no concern whatsoever that there is anyone else present. The people who engage in this sort of boorish behavior are the ones who give networking a bad name.
5. Pay attention to people's body language (and be aware of your own). For example, all human beings have space (proximity) boundaries. This varies by culture, gender, age, family, etc. Take your cues from the other person with whom you are talking. If that person is backing away from you, then maybe you're trying to move in too close. If the person is looking at his/her watch or looking around the room at others who are there, then it's possible that you're getting a signal that it's time to move on. Be sensitive to such clues-and be aware when you might be sending those cues to others.
Find other helpful ideas for yourself and your clients by going to: FromtheDeskofMegginMcIntosh.com
(c) 2008 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Productivity Professor"TM
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