Networking Venues and Opportunities

In the final installment of The Do's and Dont's of Networking, we are providing a long list of venues and situations where networking for new business opportunities and referrals are both tasteful and timely.

• Workshops and seminars
• Alumni Associations
• Colleagues 
• Rotary Clubs
• Kiwanis Clubs
• Chamber of Commerce
• Business Expos
• Community Service Groups
• BNI
• Athletic Clubs
• Leadership programs
• Professional Associations
• Religious organizations
• Hobby groups
• Golf Course
• Sporting events
• Public-speaking events
• Attorneys
• Accountants
• Realtors
• Financial Planners
• Mortgage bankers
• Coaches
• Lions Club
• Optimist Clubs
• Schools and Universities
• Social gatherings
• Industry meetings
• Community events
• Charitable organizations
• Social Networks
• Others

Want To Add To The List?

Barry Demp is a highly-skilled Michigan personal and business 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. 

Developing Your Centers of Influence

Barry Demp

Centers of Influence are individuals who possess the ability to provide great personal relationships and business relationships.  These are the types of individuals that you may aspire to be both personally and in business.  Here are some characteristics of people who would be considered a Center of Influence.  How many of these apply to your world? 

• Know everyone who is anyone.
• Are very social people - they love connecting people.
• Are members of elite networking groups.
• Are often experts in their fields, often called upon to speak to groups.
• Hold community leadership positions.
• Are board members of organizations.

Barry Demp is a highly-skilled Michigan personal and business 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.  

10 Really Good Business Networking Tips

At first glance, networking appears to be a very easy activity.  However, like anything else in your professional life, to be great at it requires a lot of time and effort.  In our series the Do's and Dont's of Networking, we offer additional tips on how to best approach networking opportunities and functions.

1. Ask the question "How would I know if somebody I know would be a good prospect for you?"
2. Focus on others, rather than on your needs, at networking events.
3. Give many referrals to others.
4. Network with people with outstanding reputations.
5. Avoid trying to sell people in your network.
6. Make a good first impression in your attire, manners, and attitude.
7. Come prepared with a good pen, business cards, and other materials.
8. Learn how to gracefully escape from long-winded conversations.
9. Does your personal introduction pass the "So What?" test?
10. Cell phones should be left in the car or turned off.

Barry Demp is a highly-skilled michigan 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.   

Be An Outstanding Networker

Is it terribly difficult to be an outstanding business networker?  Some people may say yes, others may say no.  However, one thing is true.  We all remember and like the really good networkers in our lives.  A question to ponder is "How can we help you become the networker that you admire"?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Your non-vocational interests as opportunities to network.
2. Meet personally with the majority of individuals in your networking groups.
3. Attend my networking meetings consistently.  Out of sight means out of mind!
4. Bring other professionals to your networking events.
5. Make the first move in meeting and engaging others in conversation.
6. Learn to be masterful at the use of open-ended questions and layering (who, what, where, when, why, how).
7. Be very well read in your area of expertise and in business in general.
8. Take a proactive approach to connecting with others.
9. Be an outstanding listener.
10. Consider giving speeches to various groups about your area of expertise.

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.   

Traits of Successful Networkers

What makes successful networkers successful?  

Here are some of the ways that top networkers continue to build their businesses from networking opportunities:

1. Have a well practices 15 or 30 second elevator speech (commercial).
2. Network with your suppliers and vendors.
3. Have specific goals for your networking activities.
4. Following up is your responsibility. 
5. Quality is better than quantity in networking.
6. Volunteer at civic or non-profit organizations.
7. Focus on being interested versus interesting at networking events.
8. Be able to answer W.I.I.F.T. - What's In It For Them? - when you meet someone at a networking event.
9. Be focused on a specific set of target markets versus scattered among many.
10. Build a large quality network of resources to share with others.

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.  

Do These Effective Networking Tips

What characteristics make for a great networker?  In our series The Do's and Dont's of Networking, we are offering several recommended networking tips from Barry Demp.  Here are a few that you can use at your next networking opportunity or event:  

1. Use a scoreboards to track your networking activities and effectiveness.
2. Be a giver at networking events.  Givers gain!
3. Have a plan for your networking activities.
4. Networking strategies should be intensively targeted on specific industries and professions.
5. Network everywhere.
6. Help prospects with their problems even if they cannot be a good lead for you.
7. Use the other person's name often in your networking conversations.
8. Send thank you notes and follow up consistently.
9. Limit your eating and drinking at networking events.
10. Be very confident and comfortable with yourself and the value of your services.

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. 

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.