• Emotional
  Intelligence
  • Building an emotional intelligence organisation
  • Emotional Intelligence training
• Learning
  & Talent
  • Training Needs Analysis
    • What is Training Needs Analysis
    • What size of company is concerned
    • How can Accelerating Performance assist
    • The Process
    • Benefits
  • Networking for results
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Time Management
  • Improving Personal Effectiveness
  • Media Skills
  • Presentation Skills on Video
  • Referral Marketing
  • Team Building
• Networking
   
  • Networking facilitation
  • Networking Training
  • Referral Networking Strategies
• Career
  Coaching
  • Coaching
  • Career coaching
  • Life Balance
    • Life Balance
    • The Balancing Act
    • High Performance Workplaces
    • Reducing Stress
    • Balance & Well-being
    • Improved Well Being
• Business
  Mentoring
  • Business Mentoring
  • Executive and CEO Mentoring
• Engage
  CD-ROM 
  • Engage Syllabus
  • Testimonials
• Outsourced
  marketing

<< back

Business Tips and Treats

By Caitlín O’Connor, Director Accelerating Performance & Facilitator of Residence Business Club

Networking – Is it really necessary!

Let’s begin by reflecting and answering whether the following statements reflect your actions.

• Connecting with others is not how you do business
• You don’t like to develop, grow or innovate
• People “freek you out”!
• You don’t get or want referrals from other businesses
• The knowledge base you have is sufficient – you don’t need to learn new things
• Your website captures as many customers as you need automatically
• Having fun with others is totally out of the question!
• You are related to one of the top 10 wealthiest individuals in the country.

If you can agree with all of the above statements, you probably don’t need to network. However, being a passionate networker both on line and offline I have not yet come across anyone whom after answering these questions could confidently say they did not need to network.
Networking is all about personal marketing. It is about creating awareness and interest. We network to help others. It is all about the other person. However, the rule of reciprocity applies – “the more we give – the more we get”. Networking has proven to work with a measurable return on investment. Very few other forms of marketing are as measurable and for this reason several businesses build on networking as a sole lead generation strategy.
Let’s look at the Safe Cross Code to Networking in order to get the best results.

• Attend events – it’s no use just being on the database!
• Never Sell
• Be a conversation starter
• Show a genuine interest in the other person
• Question and listen – we only learn by listening and not by talking!
• Be positive – Have “learned optimism”
• Understand and articulate what you do and who you want to be connected to – Don’t make others read your mind!
• Share contacts – it is by giving that we receive – Givers gain!
• Follow up – don’t leave it to the other person. It is up to you.

It is important when you attend networking events that you do not suffer from what I call the “Ten minute syndrome” – you grab a drink and talk to the first person you meet.
At the next Residence Business Club set a goal to connect with at least 4 new people and put your safe cross code into action.
In our next newsletter, I will impart some tips on working the room.

Caitlin O’Connor
Accelerating Performance, Profitability through staff motivation and marketing strategy