Professional Networker or Amateur?

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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