In networking it's not who you know, it's who knows you. That was the whole point of the popularity game in high school, right? Being "famous" and well-known. It didn't matter if you knew of people, they had to know who you were.
Networking is definitely not a popularity contest, but this is a negative lesson you can turn positive. If you feel like you're at a plateau in your networking, you need to find a way to get "popular" and put yourself up in front of a lot more people. You want to have more people become aware of you, not so much as a means to be popular, but as a way to open up doors and give you a warmer introduction to the people who see you.
A great way to do that? Give a speech. (If the idea makes you cringe, get thee to a Toastmasters Club right now!)
Last week I had the opportunity to give a 3 minute presentation in front of a luncheon crowd of 120+ women. The Fresno Women's Network asked me to give a presentation encouraging the members to get involved and giving them a few networking tips.
It is much, much harder to give a 3 minute speech than a 30 minute one. At least if you want to say something useful! I worked hard at boiling down the vital keys to networking success into a few statements while still having time to list the Network activities.
Did I do a good job at getting to the heart of the networking matter? You can find out by reading the speech (not a big commitment, remember it was three minutes).
Networking tips and the best way to network ... by Networking on Purpose! Professional business networking strategies from Beth Bridges, speaker, and author.
Networking is Fast ....and Slow
Which is it? Does getting results from networking happen slooowwwwly? Or fast!
Of course they are slow because networking is a long-term investment. You build up layers of interaction with people, which builds relationships. Usually, this takes time. Discovering what you have in common, exchanging information of value, and building trust is a process. It's an aspect of networking - like getting fit - that frustrates us. We want results now.
"I went to your mixer and didn't make one sale. So I'm never going again." Not making this up. I have had people say this to me.
On the other hand, it absolutely can be fast! Haven't you made a sale, gotten a referral, or made a new friend almost instantly? You just showed up and there they were, looking for you, your product, or a suggestion for you. We're like rats in a lab who get a tidbit just often enough that we keep pressing the lever.
"I went to your Speed Networking event and picked up two new clients, right off the bat. I'm going to every one of these you have." I've heard this more than the first quote.
"Now wait just a minute", you might say. "You experienced networkers are always harping on the need for patience and building rapport. Instant results don't just happen to anyone."
That's right. They don't happen to "just anyone." They happen once in a blue moon to the lucky. But they happen much more frequently to people who:
Of course they are slow because networking is a long-term investment. You build up layers of interaction with people, which builds relationships. Usually, this takes time. Discovering what you have in common, exchanging information of value, and building trust is a process. It's an aspect of networking - like getting fit - that frustrates us. We want results now.
"I went to your mixer and didn't make one sale. So I'm never going again." Not making this up. I have had people say this to me.
On the other hand, it absolutely can be fast! Haven't you made a sale, gotten a referral, or made a new friend almost instantly? You just showed up and there they were, looking for you, your product, or a suggestion for you. We're like rats in a lab who get a tidbit just often enough that we keep pressing the lever.
"I went to your Speed Networking event and picked up two new clients, right off the bat. I'm going to every one of these you have." I've heard this more than the first quote.
"Now wait just a minute", you might say. "You experienced networkers are always harping on the need for patience and building rapport. Instant results don't just happen to anyone."
That's right. They don't happen to "just anyone." They happen once in a blue moon to the lucky. But they happen much more frequently to people who:
- Invest in the social medium. Such as Twitter. I might have been tweet-tweet-tweeting and then suddenly I find new Chamber members, seemingly out of the blue, but really based on the foundation I built.
- Know exactly what they have to offer and what they need. I.e. clear value propositions save time.
- Have built a reputation with the established people who recommend them to the new people. Again, you see this extensively on Twitter.
- Don't push for the end-result without having a foundation of some kind.
- They also watch like a hawk for opportunity and move swiftly when it appears.
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