Don't Over Complicate Networking!

Simplifying and Enjoying the Process of Networking

The Focus is Simple:

1.  Consistently meet new people who are or will be in a position to help you, as well as you helping them in return of course, meet your personal goals.  To achieve long-term success the need for this will not diminish with time.  Make this an enjoyable part of the fabric of your life and you will forever reap the benefits.

2.  Confidently and Clearly articulate and spread your message.  Believe in yourself.  Have faith.  Be mindful that you are not bothering people or interrupting people; in fact, you are trying to get a very important message to them.....the message that you are unique, special, honest (I hope!), and have great knowledge and expertise.  Your Business can and would love to help them identify and implement solutions to their problems.  You can actually help them reach their goals.  Why be reluctant to deliver such a positive message?  You only have very short and brief periods of time to get your message across to those you are communicating with. 

Perception of Networking

Do you avoid Networking? 
Do you perceive the Process of Networking as a "chore" which you must reluctantly force yourself to complete?
Are you uncomfortable in Networking settings?
Do you fear that no one really wants to meet you and learn more about you and your business and the value you have to offer?

Networking should be fun!  If you learn to enjoy the Process you will in fact be much more successful!  Remove the stress.  Do not procrastinate.  Keep in mind that everyone is in the same boat.  Regardless of what particular industry one works in or what one does for a living, they can benefit from consistent and successful networking.  They too (they very people you desire to meet and network with) are also pondering how they can be more successful, meet more people, and maximize the results of all of their interactions with decision makers and influential people.

They want to meet you!  So what are you waiting for?  Change your mindset, approach the Process with Enthusiasm, and you will achieve far greater success and results!

Networking Tips

• Prepare, Practice, and Build your Confidence in advance.  Your level of confidence will be broadcast by your voice, your message, and your body language.  If you lack confidence it will show.  So work on this in advance. 
• Be Genuine.  Always.  Authentic.  Make sure you are not perceived as being phony and solely meeting someone to be a vulture who is solely trying to extract market knowledge or information for your personal benefit.  Mutually Beneficial.  Over time all relationships, whether personal or business, have to be mutually beneficial.  This is a critical objective when communicating that is not easily achieved.  No body wants to establish a relationship with someone they perceive as selfish and only seeking personal gain.  What can you do for them?  Are you the kind of person who enjoys helping others succeed or are you solely interested in your own success?  Keely observant people have a sixth sense.  The will quickly filter out and remove from their line of sight people they do not trust. 
• Be Positive. 
• Be Enthusiastic.
• Be a Great and Empathetic Listener!  I can tell when somebody is only 20% listening and tuned in to the the conversation in progress.  Very annoying and damaging to establishing a relationship!  I can also quickly tell when someone is not making good eye-contact and trying to sneak looks around the room to see who else they should be networking and marketing to.  This certainly does not help establish trust and a strong relationship right off the bat. 
• Be Unique and Memorable.  If someone is at a Networking/Marketing Event and they meet 20 people they are not going to clearly remember and recall all 20 people.  They are going to remember those who succeeded at standing out; being unique; and leaving an indelible positive impression.  They are going to remember that person who quickly and clearly conveyed the fact they have something valuable that can help people or businesses improve and achieve a higher level of success.  They are going to hold on tightly that business card and not toss it into a trash can at their earliest convenience. 

Success

Approach Networking from the Perspective that nothing is more important to your long-term success than your ability to successfully build strong and trusting positive relationships with everyone you interact with; and the more people with whom you achieve this goal the better!  Your Success depends on it!  The more people you meet and interact with the more ideas and information you have access to and can learn from. 

"Business, after all, is nothing more than a bunch of human relationships."
-Lee Iaccoca
Master, Embrace, and Enjoy the Process and Art of Networking.  Success will follow.