Networking - A Powerful Communication Tool

Professionals are constantly networking to grow themselves and their businesses. It really works. Some people, however, resist networking for whatever reason, be it that they are too busy or impatient or that they aren't confident enough to put themselves out there. Still others are trying, but may not be networking in the best way. The following tips will help you and your business gain an edge through effective networking. Prepare.

Before any networking interaction, prepare as well as possible by learning as much as possible about the potential connections you will be interacting with. By doing this, you can target questions and tailor the conversation in a manner by which you will be better able to relate to people and see how you could work together. In addition establish what you aim to achieve from networking and what you are looking to gain and offer. 

Don't look at it as work. If networking feels like a chore, you won't be getting anything out of it. Go in with a positive attitude and really get into conversations in which you're talking to and learning from each other. Organic conversations will follow and you will make a better impression. Be genuinely interested in the other networkers, not to keen to talk about you and your needs and wants.

Team up. By working with somebody else in your networking efforts, you might find yourself being more successful. One way of going about this is to an event and talk up the other person and their ideas. Spreading positive views will, whether or not they realize it, make people more inclined to feel the same way. Essentially, it is extremely valuable to have someone there to look out for and promote you. Another route is to establish a strategic relationship with someone who is already reaching and interacting with your target. 

Add value. Networking is a give and take process, and you should focus on the give. You will have to give before you get. If you do something helpful for someone or provide some form of valuable service or insight, you will make a much better impression on these people that are likely asked for favors and advice all the time. Relationships will develop, and you will be better off in the long run. Join the right group. Don't waste your time and energy being part of a group that isn't valuable. The people in the group should provide resources, knowledge, and a willingness to share, and they should be influential. Communication should be consistent, respectful, and professional, and the network should offer support in overcoming challenges and frustrations.

Don't go into a networking interaction with a sales pitch. By conversing openly and informally, you will find that people are more inclined to do business with you. Suggest topics that are not difficult to discuss and really pay attention. Listen well to the other person and stay involved in the conversation. Be engaging and enthusiastic, mind your manners, and smile. Interact with the right people. When you go to networking events, the amount of people that are there for you to reach out to can be overwhelming.  Find the right ones. Talk to the organizers and influencers who understand the inner workings and have a lot of connections.

Follow up. After any interaction, you probably promised some sort of follow-up, like a phone call or sending some information. You must actually do it. Following up with the people with whom you made connections will demonstrate interest and availability and increase the likelihood that a mutually profitable relationship will blossom. Business networking can help you make connections, close deals, grow your business, and increase your likelihood of employment, but only if done correctly. Put these tips into practice in order to gain success in your networking endeavours.


The full article

This You Tube Video highlights all the salient points

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY-PEvX4ySs

Come On Get Your Goals Set & Realise Your Dreams

 

Read a great book and wanted to share the philosophy with you all; 7 Strategies for Wealth and happiness by Jim Rohn.

To keep it really simple just follow these instructions, however before I get started a health warning! Don’t read on unless you really do want to move your life in a direction you aspire to, you want to achieve, you have dreamt of and feels right for you. Tired of that negativity in your mind telling you ‘not to be daft, you’ll never achieve that, who are you trying to kid, let’s get back to reality ‘ or you ‘so call friends’ telling you to be realistic, there are more important things to deal with, it’s a nice idea BUT!

Let’s remember dreaming is a right we inherited as a child, dreaming of what you were going to get for your Birthday or Christmas, what you were going to be when you grew up! What happen, when did you lose the ability to dream and by virtue change and take control and responsibility for your life? Maybe it’s because we are not happy with a label like dream, it’s too fanciful, too fairy tale and not realistic! OK let’s put a ‘grown up’ name to it, let’s call that dream a goal. The biggest difference having grown up is realising there are ways and means to realise a goal or a dream.  We didn’t know what would be involved with becoming an astronaut as child, however we have a better idea today; probably a few scientific degrees, I guess being able to fly, maybe fit and healthy. Now clearly that sounds simple enough, but we can all see that alone is a great deal of work and commitment. The point is you are all able to achieve our goals once we know where we want to go.

So what? This is about choice, deciding to do something different, if that you then this simple exercise is as good a starting point as any………READ ON>>>>>

So we are going to have a brain dump! First step is to find yourself a piece of paper and a pen. Got it GOOD, now divide the page into 6. Top left write BE, Top right write DO, the left to right in the remaining boxes SEE, HAVE, GO and finally bottom right SHARE:

 

 Now this is the good part, don't get into a 'flat spin' or 'too in depth' just start writing and write down your goals for the next 10 years under these headings.

What do I want to BE?

What do I want to DO?

What do I want to SEE?

What do I want to HAVE?

Where do I want to GO?

What do I want to SHARE?

The key here is not top write to much detail, the the saying goes 'keep it simple stupid'! So don't write lengthy descriptions, just write a brief memory jogger. "I want a Porches 4S" as 4S.

So how long should this take...well no more than 15 minutes, there will be time to refine and reflect in due course. The important thing is to write what comes naturally.

Next you'll need to write the number of years it is going to take you to achieve each of the goals. Don't be too definitive round it up or down to years, general 1, 3, 5 or 10. Now just pop the number with each of the goals. What's important here is to ensure you have balance in your forecasting. There's little point to having lots of 5 and 10 years goals and no 1 or 3 years, its likely to result in 'just putting things off', postponing what it is you need to get started. Likewise without the long term goals you'll be lacking some long term vision and something to really strive for. At this point you'll end up with multi-layered goals, you'll be able to maintain momentum, as you reach and achieve one goal you'll be already on the way to the next and so on!

Now with all the goals you have written you need to prioritise the top 3 or 4 in each time category. Your now going to distil what each means and represents, you need to write a paragraph on each detailing the following:

• A description of what you want; and be detailed, really tap into your minds eye, relay visualise the goal.
• The reason why you want to achieve or acquire the item, its likely at this point that you will find out if you really want it or its just a passing fancy and not a goal. Bottom line if you cant define why you should class it as a whim and reprioritise and replace it with a goal.

The point here is the real reason is the driving factor the real motivation behind the goal, so spend some time here as this is what will inspire and keep you focused on achieving it.

Once you have completed this process why not have your goals written out and presented nicely in a  journal or diary and then make sure you review them each and every week. Assess what progress you make and measure it, how much closer you are to achievement. Doesn't matter how little it matters that you are ever closer towards realising.

So get writing!

Here Jim talking about Goal Setting:

 

Jim has some great books which will help in your pursuit of your dreams and making them a reality.