Personal and Business Networking Tips

As a continuation of our blog series on the Do's and Dont's of Networking, we are exploring additional tips and strategies on how to become a more effective networker.

1. Have a great interest in others and have masterful listening skills.
2. Develop excellent relationships with the officers, leaders, and organizers of my networking venues.
3. Make requests for introductions to people who these leaders believe are a good fit for me.
4. Be specific when you make requests for assistance.
5. Networking only begins at the networking event.  Go out of your way to set up follow-up networking opportunities on a one-on-one basis.
6. Consider a personal advisory panel that helps you build your business.
7. Networking is a mutual exchange of information, ideas, and resources.  Be generous!
8. When you give something of value, politely look for a way the other person can help you in return (reciprocity).
9. Be very consistent in your networking activities.
10. Have a list of centers of influence and strategic referral partners.

Barry Demp is a highly-skilled business and personal coach focused on the areas of leadership, management, coaching, team-building, networking, business development, communication skills, relationship building, motivation, time management, life balance, and goal achievement. He specializes in working with business owners, executives, coaches, consultants, and high-potential professionals by helping them significantly increase their productivity, profitability, and life balance.  For more information or assistance, please contact Barry Demp at 248-740-3231 or visit www.dempcoaching.com.

The Dos and Dont's of Networking Blog Series

What Is Networking?

Many people think networking is the development of a system of personal and professional contacts that can be used to gain information and assistance only when needed.  In reality, it is much more!  Networking is a lifelong process that can enrich us professionally and personally in ways we never imagined.  Networking expands our view of the world; helps us take risks and reach new levels of accomplishment; promotes "win-win" situations; and encourages bringing people together in ways that make 1 + 1 equal more than 2.

Networking provides the structure, support, skills, and strategies needed to bridge the gap between ideas and actions.  It can turn strangers into friends and build a world full of people who will take our calls, give us their time, and answer our questions.  Networking can be useful in helping us reach our chosen destinations, whether they be making a job change, working more effectively with customers and colleagues, or building our own business.

What is networking to you?  Let us know by visiting here.

Networking is a learned skill build upon the personal values and attitudes inherent in all of us.  Networkers know the world is interconnected and that when they give their time, talents, and energy to help others to satisfy needs and reach goals, networkers ultimately end up helping themselves.

Reputation

Your reputation is your calling card and your greatest asset.  You build it by being your best and doing your best.

Responsibility

In today's fast-paced, global economy, the ability to take charge, show initiative, make choices, and answer for one's conduct are keys to leading a rewarding personal and professional life.  Networkers understand that actions affect outcomes and have learned to deliver what they promise.

To what degree do you deliver on your professional and personal promises?  Let us know by visiting here. 

Relationships

Networkers understand the importance of becoming acquainted with people for who they are, not only for what they do.  Establishing a sincere connection between any two people is the foundation of successful networking!

How masterful are you at developing professional and personal relationships?  See how others are doing it.


Rapport

Rapport is based on having an genuine interest in learning about others and their world.  Taking the time to learn about the needs of others provides you with an understanding of the common ground shared by you and others.

What are some of your best rapport-creating strategies?  Feel free to share them with us.


Research

If you keep up on the world around you and current trends, others will seek you out as a knowledgeable resource.  Networkers practice professional due diligence.  They do their homework because the more they know, the better prepared they will be.

What do you do on a daily or weekly basis to increase your own value as a networking resource?  You may want to check out some of these resources. 


In the coming weeks, we will be providing a wide variety of networking best-practices for review and consideration.  Here are a few:

1. Consistently arrive early to and leave late from networking opportunities.
2. Scan the sign-in sheet to learn who's attending.
3. Be careful to not spend too much time with any one individual or group.
4. Always obtain a business card from people who interest you and write appropriate reminder notes on the back.
5. Focus most of your time at networking events on meeting new people and spend limited time with people that you know well.

Barry Demp is a highly-skilled business and personal coach focused on the areas of leadership, management, coaching, team-building, networking, business development, communication skills, relationship building, motivation, time management, life balance, and goal achievement. He specializes in working with business owners, executives, coaches, consultants, and high-potential professionals by helping them significantly increase their productivity, profitability, and life balance.  For more information or assistance, please contact Barry Demp at 248-740-3231 or visit www.dempcoaching.com.

Maintaining Relationships For Better Business Results

I work with that person.  I know that person.  But do I really? 

Reaching out to communicate and build relationships with a co-worker or contact should be embraced.  Here is why. 

In the time it takes for you to walk to the break room and pour yourself a cup of coffee, you can build and maintain some of the most fulfilling relationships that you may ever have.

Now, you may be saying to yourself, “Barry I hear what you are saying, but I don’t know what it all means”. 

Well, imagine for a moment if your vision for the future were something like this:

My life is a happy, healthy, abundantly rich world of extraordinary relationships, great accomplishments and integrity.  A world of faith and personal excellence where each person develops and goes the extra mile to contribute to their unique gifts and talent towards the fulfillment of a life of passion and purpose.

The reality is that having a world of truly fulfilling relationships, both business and personal, is very possible and very real.  If you are willing to work at it each and every day. 

10 Important Ways To Build Your Business Relationships

1. Go out of your way to let the people you are talking with express themselves fully.  When people feel that they can express themselves they experience a high degree of relatedness. 
2. Be “fully present” in each conversation and nowhere else.  Make eye contact and listen completely to what the other person is saying. 
3. Learn to say that you are sorry…and mean it. 
4. Be generous and loving.  It’s amazing what comes back to you. 
5. Never rush a relationship.  All good things come in time. 
6. Empathy and compassion are two muscles worth building. 
7. Be willing to forgive others and move forward.  Being unforgiving is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. 
8. Demonstrate kindness, caring, loyalty, and respect in all relationships.  Doing so is like putting money in your relationship bank account. 
9. Be trusting and trustworthy. 
10. Be genuine and authentic.  Andre Gide once said “It is better to fail at your own life than to succeed at someone else’s”.

Barry Demp is a highly-skilled business and personal coach focused on the areas of leadership, management, coaching, team-building, networking, business development, communication skills, relationship building, motivation, time management, life balance, and goal achievement. He specializes in working with business owners, executives, coaches, consultants, and high-potential professionals by helping them significantly increase their productivity, profitability, and life balance.  For more information or assistance, please contact Barry Demp at 248-740-3231 or visit www.dempcoaching.com.