Recently I was featured on Embracing My Journey and wanted to share the article I wrote.
http://embracingmyjourney.com/building-genuine-networking-relationships.html
Genuine networking is all about people. It is about building relationships and creating long term connections. This style of networking may take longer but in the long run you will be rewarded with a group of people who know you well enough to trust you and refer you to other and work with you directly as well.
Listen to what people say with a genuine interest
Focusing on what someone is saying gives people respect for you and positions you as a caring person. Reflect on a time when someone has asked how you are and then didn’t listen to your answer. Perhaps they saw someone they knew or was listening to another conversation. How did you feel? Make a point of really truly listening when someone talks, especially if you have asked them a question.
Keep your focus and Eye Contact with people when they are talking
Eye contact makes the person you are talking with know you are paying attention and makes them feel important. A connection is made when you look a person in the eye.
Let people talk about themselves
Even if you do not get to talk about yourself at the first meeting with someone, letting them talk about themselves gives them a good feeling and a good impression of you as a genuine individual who cares. Have you ever experienced a person talking about themselves, not letting you get a word on edgewise? Not a great feeling is it?
Remember peoples names
I had an embarrassing moment in my early networking days. One day I was talking with someone who I had met before and did not remember their name. It was when another person joined the conversation and I realized that I could not introduce them that it became quite awkward. I did not realize that I was not really listening when people told me their names. It only took me that one time to realize that I needed to work on that! I now make sure I make a point of remembering or when I enter a room I take a look around quickly and if there is a name that escapes me I make sure I ask someone before I connect.
Remember details about people
Nothing makes someone feel better then being asked about something they mentioned to you previously. It shows you cared enough to remember and were really listening when they talked. A little trick I learned was to make notes on the back of their business card as I meet so many people I need a little help to remember details about each one. The next time I see the person I can ask them how their situation worked out or how their son is doing.
Followup with no sales pitch
Following up is a key aspect of networking, but following up without selling something is a feel good gesture. An e-mail or card saying it was nice to meet you goes along way in building relationships and shows there is more to you then making a sale.
You may not always end up doing business with each person you meet but you can feel good about the impression you have left and that person will feel good about the experience of meeting and referring you. When you can truly network genuinely is when you see the magic of networking begin.
Happy Networking!
Sherry Lynn
