by Amanda Chocko
The holiday season is here and the invitations are pouring in-let the networking begin! This is a great time to meet new people and re-connect with the those you already know. Below are a few tips to help you continue to grow your business network and have a great time doing it.
Whenever I am going to an event where I would like to network, I always have a plan. To make the best use of your time, set a few mental goals before you walk in the door. An example of this would be:
*Introduce myself to 3 new people.
*Re-connect with 3 people I already know.
*Be a resource for at least one person.
Let’s start with “introduce myself to 3 new people”. So often, people go to a party or an event and immediately gravitate toward the people that they already know. If this is something that you do, don’t feel bad-it is natural to want to stay in your comfort zone. But if your goal is to “network”, this is not a good plan. I always start by finding a person who is seems to be on their own. Just walk up to the person, extend your hand, smile, make eye contact, and introduce yourself. There are many ways to start a conversation during the holiday season. You could ask questions like “Do you have any big plans for the holiday?”, “What brings you to this event?”, or you can ask them about their work. The main thing to remember is to take a sincere interest in them. People love to talk about themselves; it makes them feel important. Networking is about building relationships. If you have the ability to make people feel valued, important, and appreciated, you will never have a problem building relationships or making friends. (I will talk more about how to break into a group or an existing conversation in future newsletters).
In addition to meeting new people, you also need to re-connect with the people you already know. Networking is like planting a garden. If you plant seeds and never water them, they will die. This is also true of your relationships. You must continuously be nurturing your network for it to thrive. Again, it is all about taking a sincere interest in people. Find out how things are with their business and family. Try to build on previous conversations. Which reminds me-do you remember what your last conversation with this person was about? Keep notes about the conversations you have with people. Not only will it impress the heck out of them that you remember what you spoke about, it will also make them feel that you really do take a sincere interest in them. Think about the people that you gravitate towards. I am sure it is the people that make you feel valued, important and appreciated. You probably don’t go out of your way to do business with people who try to “sell” you or only talk about themselves.
This leads me to “be a resource for at least one person”. Who can you help at the event? How can you use your expertise, experience and contacts to make someone’s day? The best way to find this out is to “listen”-and I mean “active listening”, not “pretend listening”. While speaking with people, try to think about who you know or what you know that could be of assistance. Perhaps you could give them a lead, or recommend a great book or website that would interest them.
The best time to network and build relationships is when you do not have an immediate need. People prefer to do business with people who they know, like and trust. The holiday season presents great opportunities to build and nurture your network which will no doubt come back to you in ways that you never imagined.