No matter what career field you are in, all business people are networkers. Every time you meet someone, you are networking. Every time you greet someone, you are networking. Every time you pick up the phone, you are networking. Every time you engage someone in conversation, you are networking.
To become more effective at connecting with people consider the following seven habits:
1. Knowing what networking is
You can’t be successful at networking if you don’t understand what it is. Networking is about who you know. The more people you know and the greater the diversity there is in your contact base, the more successful you will be. An effective networking should create a broad base of people with whom you are connected and your relationship with your network should benefit you and those whom you can help.
2. Developing a networking strategy
Before attending any event or engage consider the basics. Why are they networking? What do they hope to accomplish? Who will they be exposed to? How can they help those whom they will meet and how will the relationships they develop be mutually beneficial?
3. Finding the right venue
Consider the date, time and place of venue. If you are not a morning person, breakfast groups are not for you. If you don’t like mixing of mingling at cocktail parties, find another event. Keep in mind all networking does not have to be work-related.
4. Preparing for and working events
If there is an even to attend, why is it being held? Who will be there? What will people most likely want to talk about? What is the attire? Showing up in inappropriate attire can make a person stand out from the crowd for all the wrong reasons.
5. Mastering the art of conversation
Showing up at events is a waste of time if you can’t make small talk with people once you arrive. Prepare at least three topics that you can talk about when no one knows what to say. Keep in mind 80% of conversation is listening and 20% is talking.
6. Following up and following through
Follow up turns people you have met into people you know. Think of ways to stay connected such as writing a note, inviting them to join you for coffee or possibly meet you for lunch. The Golden Rule of networking is to do what you say you will.
7. Practicing exceptional business etiquette skills from start to finish
The magic of successful networking is to make others feel valued by focusing attention on them, listen to what is being said and respond. When the time comes to move on, the polite networker has graceful exit lines already prepared. A good closure is, “I have enjoyed our conversation. I hate to end it but I feel that I have monopolized your time. I know that there are other people here whom you’d like to talk to.”
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