Networking for Success, Part 2
Carol Deckert
Social Networking, The Passion Project
Have you heard the phrase, “Network with Intention?”
As you develop your Networking Plan (and I highly suggest that you do this as part of your overall Marketing Plan) be mindful of what your goals and expectations for your business are and how you are going to reach them. Think about who it is that could help you along the way. Perhaps you are in need of some specialized advice, such as accounting, insurance or marketing. What names are prominent in those areas that could potentially be part of your own network? If you do not know these people, whose reputations are top-notch in their industry, find out who does know them. Make it a point to ask the appropriate questions until you find someone who can introduce you to the specialist you are trying to meet. This accomplishes a few things along the way!
(1) You are keeping in touch with your immediate network, keeping them abreast of what is happening with you and giving you the opportunity to find out what they are up to these days;
(2) You are providing an opportunity for the members of your network to help you in meeting the person you would like an introduction to - you know, it may take several layers of people, who know people, who know people, etc., to get to the specialist you are after. Networkers enjoy helping others, so you are now providing that opportunity for them!
As you “weave” your way through the various layers of people, don’t forget your networking ettiquette! Remember to thank those that have helped you, remember to ask what you can do for them! I believe when you network with intention you are taking huge steps in relationship marketing - setting up the opportunities for others to generate a steady stream of referrals! How does that happen? Just think about the process that is happening, people are talking to their connections, exchanging information about what is happening and what is needed. As this information flows opportunities are popping up all over the place to make additional referrals! It could actually be a never-ending circle of success! Now, that’s networking with intention!
Some may refer to the list of people they want to meet as their “hit list.” Me, I think saying this is my Intention List sounds a lot more professional! What do you think?
Asking for help to meet someone doesn’t always have to be for business growth. It’s fun to think about who would you most like to meet, anywhere in the world? I posed this question to my RUNLancaster group at our weekly face-to-face meeting one week and asked them,
“if you had the opportunity to meet any person in the world, no matter what your reason for wanting to meet them, who would it be?”
Then my follow-up question was
“why is it important to you to meet that person?”
Isn’t that a great ice-breaker in a networking situation? I guess I better reveal to you who I would most like to meet in the world! My ultimate dream would be to meet Sir Richard Branson! He followed his dream, through success and downfall, and created an empire! I would love to meet him just to ask him to please share some of his tips with me!
Now that you know who I would like to meet - do you have any connections that could help make that possible for me? AND . . . now tell me, who do YOU most want to meet?
Let’s Network with Intention and post comments below - who knows who someone else knows? There are some awesome people in my RUNLancaster group - would you like to meet them? Visit http://www.runlancaster.com to see who they are! There are also some super networkers that are networking in my Skype Room as well, I think you should check it out and see who you would like to meet! http://www.runlancaster.com/skype-room/networking Be sure to post in the comment section and tell me how I can help you make your Networking with Intention a positive experience!
Carol Deckert @ June 4, 2008
Carol Deckert