Tweet

Who do you know about NETWORKING ?

Written by: Edmee Schalkx

Article Overview: Networking is about maintaining and nurturing your network of contacts and making this your priority. Is not about getting something out of your network. Networking is about sharing what you have, is about asking for favours and returning them and most probably not to the same person who helped you. Networking is about bringing people together and seeing how they get along and profit from your introductory action.

Who do you know about NETWORKING ?

As part of my work I had to implement quite a large number of training programmes, projects and coaching sessions for individuals as well as for organizations like UNDP, nabuur.com, Chambers of commerce and training institutes. While travelling around the world, either for pleasure or work, I’ve met a lot of interesting people and have spent my fair share of time at diplomatic functions, rally meetings and many other networking parties and waiting rooms. For a long time I attended these meetings because they were part of my work, but actually I did not enjoy myself. In the hours, and sometime days, that preceded one of these events, I happened to wind myself up and lament about how much I disliked going to these functions. Luckily, I always survived the first 10 minute freak (standing awkwardly in the middle of the room or “hanging” at the coffee table) and then I enjoyed myself tremendously.

I have little to show, regarding my initial collection of business card, only a great amount of photos with nameless faces and functions. What a shame! The cards and names I have kept are of people who came to me because they needed me, were my friends and/or colleagues. All the important people I had the chance to meet passed by me, and I frozen with anguish, did not dare to articulate a simple hello. Not because I did not have an opening line, but because I saw myself like I saw many others: contact seekers. For a long time I was appalled at people who just made fast contacts and got favours. I did not want to be like them, so I just stopped talking to people I felt could be good for my career. Worse of all, I refrained form doing what I loved the most: spending genuine time with people.

Looking back at those years I see that my perception of networking was the wrong one. Networking is not about “grabbing” opportunities or milking the cow to exhaustion. Is not about using people for your own benefit. Networking is not a one-way- relationship, where one always gives and the other always takes.

Networking is of course about taking, but also about giving. Is about selling and buying, and about using the information you have for your benefit, but also for the benefit of others, because what you give around comes around.

What is networking?
For a coach/entrepreneur the purpose of a good network is much more than a basis for getting new clients. For a student or a career seeker the purpose of networking is more than just finding a good job. Networking is build over time and is a source of many things such as building a career, your organization, finding useful information and friendships.

Networking is not about elevator speeches neither a mere exchange of business cards. Networking is about learning, sharing, taking and giving back. Is about empathy and human exchange. Is about collecting information and staying in contact with each other.

Networking is about maintaining and nurturing your network of contacts and making this your priority. Is not about getting something out of your network. If lately you have been lazy, forgetful towards your network, then you need to start to renew your network with an email, a call, a card, refer someone, or just send an article like I am sending you this one!

Networking is about sharing what you have. Networking is about asking for favours and returning them and most probably not to the same person who helped you. Networking is about bringing people together and seeing how they get along and profit from your introductory action.

As a growing coach and the president of the ICF-NL, I want other coaches to share, learn and grow. I need my network and the one of others to find monthly speakers who want to share their wealth with us. I am using the network for my benefit but also for my environment. While one gets the chance to show what he/she knows, the others are learning and growing.

As a project manager I like bringing people and organisations together even if it has little or direct gain for me. Over a year ago I introduced Charles Ruffolo, networking, to Siegfried Woldhek, CEO of nabuur.com. Nabuur was looking for ways to strengthen its initial steps to become an organisation helping with community development. Charles could assist Siegfried in this task, by helping him contact former president Clinton. A year later nabuur.com has taken the steps to ask Clinton’s support on the quest of supporting local communities all over the world.

Go out and network and above all enjoy the results and gains of your networking actions

Activating your network Game

Take as many business cards as you have. Spread them out on a table and without much thought pick out 2 – 3 cards. Look at them and ask yourself the following questions:
What does the business card tell me?
What is the feeling I get from looking at the card?
What can the person of the card do for me? and
How can I be of service to the person on the business card?

When you have the answers to these questions, contact them. Tell them about your experience with the Game and use the networking tips.
Do the game at least once a week and enjoy winning at the networking game.

Networking Tips

1. Make contact with your network:
 By being YOU
 Be honestly interested
 Listen and be empathic
2. Always honour your network and the contacts you make through it.
 Thank your contacts for the introduction of a new contact
 Let others know how you met your new contact
 Do not disclose private information nor gossip
3. Contribute to other people
 Networking is not only about promoting yourself
 Networking is also about contributing to the people you meet
4. Trade your negative ideas about networking
 Networking is not about hard sell of you nor your services
 Networking is about being genuinely interest and generous
 Good networking is about enjoying and enriching each other
5. Have Fun
 Contribute,
 Be empathic
 And above all be Passionate about who you are and the people who surround you

Related Articles
  Networking Mistake Myopia
  Endless Referrals
  Networking Tips for Introverts or How to Break The Ice Without Fear of Falling Through
  NETWORKING ISNT SELLING OR IS IT
  Should you join a networking group?

Article Tags: achieving sucess, favours, networking, priority



Related Forum Posts


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Fear Factors in Small Business: Sales & Marketing

Leader's Success Secret: Celebration

Is the iPad useful? One CEO tells all ....

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.