I was talking with a top business leader recently when he said something that really surprised me, “I don’t know about your business abilities, but you are one of the best networkers I’ve ever met.”
I don’t know if that was good or bad, but I was flattered because this came from a guy I really respect.
There are some things I’m better at than others and networking seems to be one of my strengths.
It’s amazing, because networking didn’t come easily to me. In fact, many years ago I had the opportunity to enroll in the Harvard Business School Small Business Program and I realized I didn’t have any networking skills. So I went to the library and checked out some books on how to network. (This was pre YouTube)
I really don’t think most people look forward to or enjoy networking and I that’s probably because they make it much more difficult than it needs to be. Many people feel they should go into a room and try to meet everyone. This is the idea from hell.
Have you ever been talking to someone at an event and they keep looking over your shoulder to see if there’s someone new or more important that they should be talking with? Doesn’t it make you hate them?
When I attend a meeting or event, I just want to make sure I meet at least one person. But I really want to MEET that person. I try to spend time with them and get to know them.
Then afterwards I make a point to send them an e-mail and/or invite them into LinkedIn.
In other words, I want to build a relationship.
If I attend a couple of events/meetings a week and I meet one person each time, I will have no less than one hundred new friends each year.
People always say to me, “You seem to know everyone in town.” I don’t, but I’m working on it.
Great advice David!
Holly, thanks.
Enjoyed your post. I work where I work because I went to a Biz Journal Best In Biz event with that very philosophy.
Matt, thanks. You meet some great people & it really works.
David,
When I read the first line of this blog, I immediately thought, yes, he is a great at meeting people because he gives them his attention and is genuinely interested in learning new things and making new friends. That’s what it is all about.
Teresa, I had an interesting conversation with someone who knows Gov. Bentley. He said, “He’s the nicest man. When he talks with you, he gives you his full attention.” That is difficult to do, but it shows the importance of the person you are speaking with.
[...] An example of this: a few months ago, I was asked to speak at an event full of business people who were in an industry that would not be very likely to do business with Buzz12. I hesitated before accepting the invitation to speak. When I talked it over with David, he said “you can’t know what the benefit of speaking will be until after the event – you just have to trust that the benefit will be there.” [...]