- From Rocks to Roses: Make Your Dream Come True
- Networking with a Purpose: Plan Ahead
- One Hint for Stress Management
- The 7 Elements of Making an Effective Request
- Noticing and Overcoming the 4 Obstacles to Manifesting Your Dreams
Networking with a Purpose: Plan Ahead
By Anne Baber & Lynne Waymon, Contacts Count
Okay, we confess. When we go to networking events we sidle up next to some people who are talking and eavesdrop. This is the conversation we hear, over and over again, as people from Tacoma to Tampa meet and greet each other.
"Hi, how are you?"
"Not bad. How are you?"
"Not bad. What's new?"
"Not much. What's new with you?"
"Not much. Been real busy."
"Me too. Good to see you."
"Good to see you. Let's get together sometime."
"Let’s do. I’ll give you a call.”
This is a conversation in search of a topic! Nothing happened. And nothing is likely to happen as a result of this kind of dead-end chit-chat.
To avoid these cliche-ridden conversations, be prepared to be spontaneous. Before you go anyplace, make a list of What You Have To Give and What You Want To Get. Then, when somebody says, "What's new?" you'll have an answer that will lead you to a meaningful exchange of information.
Begin with your Give list. Every time you give a contact something, that person will begin to search for ways to pay you back. It's human nature. So give generously. That's the way to create a network of people whose antennas are up to discover opportunities and information to give to you.
Be sure your Give list includes items from several of these categories.
Enthusiasms Tell people about your country line dancing class or the historic home where you held your annual holiday party.
Discoveries Share the news that a local organization is sponsoring a poetry reading by Maya Angelou soon or tell about a new way to brainstorm.
Resources Pass along an audiotape or book you especially enjoyed or invite someone to tour your company's video production center.
Expertise Share information on how to prepare a dynamite resume or research pre-schools.
Referrals/Leads Give the name of your desktop publisher. Tell your contacts about someone who is looking for the products or services they provide.
Reviews Provide your opinion about some software or a movie or the best Mexican restaurant in town.
Ideas Tell about new ways to orient employees or innovative approaches to increase sales.
Trends Provide a sneak preview on what's coming in your profession or industry.
Support When someone has a problem, ask if she'd like to hear how you handled a similar situation or the name of an expert who might help.
Shortcuts/Tips Pass along tips on how you organized your office files or how to entertain the kids during Spring Break.
New Products/Services/Businesses Tell about a new business you found where dog owners can wash their dogs. (It's called the Laundramut, of course!)
Think about What You Want To Get. Check back through the Give categories. What else do you want to find, connect with, learn about, understand, investigate, solve, or have more of in your life? Ask people.
What You Have To Give and What You Want To Get are ever-changing. So, make a new list for every encounter. You'll be amazed at the valuable information you'll find in your very next conversation, if you take the time to Be Prepared.
Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon are authors of Make Your Contacts Count: Networking Know-How for Business and Career Success (2007, AMACOM).