Tool Box
Issue No. 13 - October/November 2003
Three Good Reasons for Networking
A Guide to Successful Networking
by Sandra Earle-Russo
- Information– It could be information to help make a business decision, or who has the best product for your manufacturing process. It may be information about a company, which you are negotiating with, or access to someone your business needs contact with.
- Business – This could be a direct business referral or an introduction to someone who will be a continuing source of business. It may be more removed, you may be introduced to someone who has already filled their need but they know someone who needs your product today and you can deliver
- Career – This could be about a position in the perfect company, it may be an introduction to the mentor that helps you achieve all your career goals or access to someone who knows someone who needs you and your skills.
If this sounds like the way you would like to structure your networks but is not what is happening, you may need to re—evaluate your style of networking or the network events you are attending. Do you think of networking events as the opportunity to meet another contact to help you on your merry way or is your vision a little broader. You treat networking events as an opportunity to establish a relationship with someone new and to catch up with contacts with whom you already have a relationship, a chance to help someone with an introduction you just know will be perfect for them. If you are following the latter course and still feel that you are not achieving with your networking, are you keeping the relationship going? How often do you have contact with your new connection? Have you given anything? How good are your records? Can you still recall or find in your system the things you learnt, when you asked open—ended questions at a network event, three months later?
Do you know in advance of the network event what it is you want and what you have to give or do you trust in a magic fairy wand?
Harvey MacKay said ‘If I had to ...
