Professional Networker or Amateur?
Professional Networker or Amateur?
Then there are those meetings when all you want to do is make for the door, if one more person approaches you with the old business dating come on….. So hem, what do you do?
About what I retort? By this time all I want is to find a strong Martini shaken not stirred.
Why oh why do some people get it and yet so many others never do?
The most successful networking professionals are more interested in how they can add value to you by following time tested and proven methods. Not buy shoving their business card into your hand and moving around the room like a feeding frenzy in a pool of hungry sharks.
I am privileged to have become good friends with a couple of people I consider experts on networking. Bonnie Ross Parker is one of those people. She is an Author, Business Women with extraordinary experience and a true passion for people and their success. Bonnie has a very successful women’s networking organization called The Joy of Connecting. www.thejoyofconnecting.com and the best book and system for networking I have found is from Bob Littell, www.netweaving.com He presents some of the very best meaningful and strategic teaching for building a successful trusted resource network I have found.
I borrowed some direct quotes from a radio program Bonnie and I did together last year on this topic.
Differentiate. Being unique distinguishes you from others, especially those that are in the same industry. Remember when you were young and fitting in meant doing the same thing as everyone else in the crowd? Being the same was a way of establishing acceptance. In the business world, the opposite is true. You will have an advantage when you differentiate. For example, initiate conversations with people you don’t know. Ask how he/she got into the industry they are in, what trends they anticipate or what they did before their current career. Ask what they find to be their biggest challenge
Be Memorable. There are two ways to be memorable – appearance and behavior. In one’s appearance consider branding yourself. For example, men can wear unusual ties, different lapel pins or colors unlike every other man. Women have an easier time? Jewelry can easily help a woman be memorable. Barbara Bush wears her infamous pearls and Larry King is known for his suspenders. They have branded themselves!
The second way to be memorable is in your behavior. You must focus on being remembered for the right reason – generosity, punctuality, follow through, integrity and resourcefulness are examples. Being remembered means leaving positive imprints in everything you say and do. People are watching and will choose to do business with individuals that display consistency and integrity.
Make A Difference. You never know who you will meet and the difference you can make in someone else’s life or the difference that encounter will make in your life. Replace a simple thank you with “I appreciate you”. Go out of your way to make a newcomer feel comfortable at a networking event. Over time, you’ll be amazed how differentiating yourself, being memorable and making a difference will impact your success.
Whether you are networking online or offline, these tips can make your experience magical instead of a nightmare. Changing just a few things about your networking skills can make a tremendous difference in your business life.
Professional Networker or Amateur - To learn more about this author, visit Kathleen R. Smart's Website.
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In business we become very familiar with amateurs in every profession. At times as we move about in business circles we are able to develop relationships with great people and at times the synergy at these types of meetings is just so magical.
Then there are those meetings when all you want to do is make for the door, if one more person approaches you with the old business dating come on….. So hem, what do you do?
About what I retort? By this time all I want is to find a strong Martini shaken not stirred.
Why oh why do some people get it and yet so many others never do?
The most successful networking professionals are more interested in how they can add value to you by following time tested and proven methods. Not buy shoving their business card into your hand and moving around the room like a feeding frenzy in a pool of hungry sharks.
I am privileged to have become good friends with a couple of people I consider experts on networking. Bonnie Ross Parker is one of those people. She is an Author, Business Women with extraordinary experience and a true passion for people and their success. Bonnie has a very successful women’s networking organization called The Joy of Connecting. www.thejoyofconnecting.com and the best book and system for networking I have found is from Bob Littell, www.netweaving.com He presents some of the very best meaningful and strategic teaching for building a successful trusted resource network I have found.
I borrowed some direct quotes from a radio program Bonnie and I did together last year on this topic.
Differentiate. Being unique distinguishes you from others, especially those that are in the same industry. Remember when you were young and fitting in meant doing the same thing as everyone else in the crowd? Being the same was a way of establishing acceptance. In the business world, the opposite is true. You will have an advantage when you differentiate. For example, initiate conversations with people you don’t know. Ask how he/she got into the industry they are in, what trends they anticipate or what they did before their current career. Ask what they find to be their biggest challenge
Be Memorable. There are two ways to be memorable – appearance and behavior. In one’s appearance consider branding yourself. For example, men can wear unusual ties, different lapel pins or colors unlike every other man. Women have an easier time? Jewelry can easily help a woman be memorable. Barbara Bush wears her infamous pearls and Larry King is known for his suspenders. They have branded themselves!
The second way to be memorable is in your behavior. You must focus on being remembered for the right reason – generosity, punctuality, follow through, integrity and resourcefulness are examples. Being remembered means leaving positive imprints in everything you say and do. People are watching and will choose to do business with individuals that display consistency and integrity.
Make A Difference. You never know who you will meet and the difference you can make in someone else’s life or the difference that encounter will make in your life. Replace a simple thank you with “I appreciate you”. Go out of your way to make a newcomer feel comfortable at a networking event. Over time, you’ll be amazed how differentiating yourself, being memorable and making a difference will impact your success.
Whether you are networking online or offline, these tips can make your experience magical instead of a nightmare. Changing just a few things about your networking skills can make a tremendous difference in your business life.
Professional Networker or Amateur - To learn more about this author, visit Kathleen R. Smart's Website.
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David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
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As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
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