Women Mean Biz

What sort of networker are you?

by Philippa Constable on 29th Jul 2014

Having observed ALOT of networking over the past 9 years, I have concluded that there are two types of networkers.  There are those people who are re-active networkers, and those that are pro-active networkers.

So, which one are you?

Here are some questions for you to ask yourself:

  1. Do you instigate conversations with people at an event, or are you standing by the coffee station, waiting for people to come to you?
  2. Are you asking lots of fact finding questions to see how you can help other business people?
  3. Are you always on the lookout for referrals for people in your networking group?
  4. Do you initiate and make time for 121 meetings every month with your fellow members?
  5. When someone says they are looking for introductions, do you go out of your way to see if you can find a referral for that member?
  6. Are you the sort of person who takes action and follows up after a networking event, every time?
  7. Do you give feedback when you've received a referral or recommendation to 'nurture' the relationship with the person who has been kind enough to refer business to you?
  8. Following a 121 meeting, do you take action to help support that business person, within a certain period of time?
  9. Do you feel happy and comfortable picking up the phone, and making a referral/recommendation to one of your contacts?

To be a successful networker, it's all about being prepared to put yourself out there, and take some REAL action. Let's be honest here, it's what you are hoping that other people will do for you, right?

One of things I learnt when I worked for a recruitment agency in London, about 25 years ago now, (showing my age) is to DO IT NOW!  The problem is, we put things off, we procrastinate, we sit back and wait for things to happen. Well .... it's not going to happen, unless you get off your ARSE, and take action. And that means taking action with helping others in your networking community, instead of waiting for them to make the first move.

If you'd like to know more about having a strategy for successful networking, then WMB run monthly networking workshops that are open to everyone.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

 

 

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