Networking Information |
|
Networking: Is Your Approach Too Self-Centered?
It's a classic mistake by networkers: their approach is focused on their own needs rather than on the needs of their contacts. Fortunately, a popular new book by Bonnie Lowe makes it easy to solve this problem. The book, "Networkaholics Revealed! True Confessions From People Who Networked Their Way to Success (And How You Can Do the Same)," provides strategies and success stories from 49 master networkers. Many of those strategies focus on how networkers can benefit from being selfless instead of selfish. The goal is happier contacts, which ultimately translates into long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. "It's natural for people to look out for their own self interests when they start any important activity," Lowe said. "So many people focus their networking efforts on obtaining things they want (more leads, referrals, sales and business). "But the best networkers know this is a huge mistake. While those desired outcomes are shared by all networkers, people who put others' needs before their own will reap far greater rewards." According to Lowe, the first and most important step when striving to build a meaningful network is to consciously suspend your self interest. Then follow these three steps: 1. Ask yourself, "How can I help them?" (instead of "How can they help me?"). Give a lot of thought to what you can offer them, such as: "If you can do any of those three things, you immediately have value," said Chip Tarver, author of First Contact Secrets. "If you have value in a stranger's eyes, he/she will think you're worth getting to know. If you don't have value, why would they care about you? Your goal should be to help others. If your only goal is to help yourself, you're not going to be much of a networker, because you'll become known as a 'taker,' not a 'giver.' Givers have the greatest networks and they typically give out of a heart of giving, not out of selfishness to enrich themselves." Dr. Harlan Kilstein, CEO of Overnight Copy, offers this strategy: "The best thing you can do, well before you meet with people, is find out about them, their businesses, their products, etc. Give them positive feedback. Most importantly, find out what you can do for them. That's the true definition of networking." Ken McCarthy, Founder of Amacord, Inc., said, "Never look at people as a means to an end. I know a lot of people do that and become successful that way, but they flame out as people around them realize, 'This guy is totally in it for himself; he doesn't care about me.' People figure that out eventually. But if you offer service and are truly helpful to someone, then all doors open to you." 2. Be kind. "One of my favorite bumper stickers is 'Practice Random Acts of Kindness,'" Lowe said. "That applies perfectly to networking." Helena Bouchez, Owner of Lenalinks Creative Technical Writing & Consulting, said, "Acts of kindness have tremendous impact and create instant rapport. People do not expect it. You become top-of-mind for the person you help. It's not a linear process. All help given comes back multiplied - but not necessarily from the person you helped! A lot of people don't understand this and get very fixated on 'score keeping' and extracting something from the person they gave something to. That's not how it works. Generosity creates a positive vibe, and is a magnet for good situations." 3. Be patient. Some benefits of your generosity will be immediate, but not all. David Garfinkel, Founder of World Copywriting Institute, suggests, "Take a long-term view about 'getting yours.' Things can happen in a flash, but often you'll help someone and years later, just when you need it, people in your network will be there for you in ways you never could have anticipated." In Summary "All business is ultimately about people and relationships," said Lowe. "We all feel better doing business with people we like. When you are generous to others and genuinely care about helping them, they will naturally like you and want to help you in turn." Giving first also invokes the universal law of reciprocity. In other words, if you do something for someone else, that person feels obliged to return the favor and do something for you. The end result of all this generosity? Long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships! Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular book, "Networkaholics Revealed! True Confessions From People Who Networked Their Way to Success (And How You Can Do the Same)." For more information about this helpful networking resource, go to http://www.Networkaholics-Revealed.com
MORE RESOURCES: The last mile's at risk in our hostile environment. Let’s go the extra mile to fix it - The Register NVIDIA Announces New Switches Optimized for Trillion-Parameter GPU Computing and AI Infrastructure NVIDIA Blog Hackers exploit Aiohttp bug to find vulnerable networks BleepingComputer Networking Solutions Provider HCIN Networks Secures INR 12.5 Cr Led by Swastika Investmart Entrepreneur Channel Brief: Juniper Networks, Accenture Channel E2E Traefik Labs Product Updates Set New Standard in Cloud-Native API Networking and Security Yahoo Finance AI, networking and career growth: Payments Forum 2024 preview American Banker Fargo hosting nurse networking night Essentia Health YWCA Luncheon Offers Networking Opportunity - Glendale News-Press Glendale News-Press Traefik Labs Product Updates Set New Standard in Cloud-Native API Networking and Security Business Wire DOD Drives New Interest in 5G Networks Across Government FedTech Magazine How IT and OT convergence can unlock networking's full potential RCR Wireless News Time Sensitive Networking for Aerospace Design and Reuse People to Meet: Area Networking Events Prince William Living Vubiq Networks Announces HaulPass Fiber, the Industry's First Software-driven Millimeter Wave Radio Yahoo Finance Networking Platform In-App Games Trend Hunter CMC Networks takes action on South Africa internet outages Advanced Television Public Service & Social Impact Networking Night | Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life Tisch College of Civic Life Javon Solomon Draft Networking Interview: 'My Motor Never Stops Running' The Draft Network Angola Oil & Gas Cocktail & Networking Function in Houston OILMAN Magazine AI Fire-Detection Tool Awarded for “Innovations in Networking” by CENIC University of California San Diego Best DEI initiative is intentional networking: Opinion Crain's Chicago Business Quantum Computing and Networking Poised to Revolutionize Cryptography BroadbandBreakfast.com Leveraging the best-of-breed networking solutions for flexible and ubiquitous connectivity – Intelligent CIO Europe Intelligent CIO SDA’s data relay, missile tracking networks to be operational by end of 2025: Tournear Breaking Defense Nvidia unveils world-first 800Gb/s networking platforms for AI DataCenterNews Asia Top Networking Events in Africa Finance Magnates Best business networking app of 2024 TechRadar Indulge in Palestinian food, fitness activities and networking sessions at women-only space Marookha KL Options The Edge Austin Jones Draft Networking Interview: 'I'll Do Whatever It Takes' The Draft Network The 3 Best Wi-Fi Mesh-Networking Kits of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter The New York Times NSA Issues Recommendations to Protect Software Defined Networking Controllers National Security Agency Kiran Amegadjie Draft Networking Interview: 'I'm A Can't-Miss Prospect' The Draft Network The Price Women Pay for Networking With High-Status People The Wall Street Journal Berman Law Group in Coral Springs Hosting Business Networking Mixer at Tap 42 Craft Kitchen & Bar TAPinto.net A.J. Woods Draft Networking Interview: Versatility Is Key The Draft Network Halo Infinite's Next Update Overhauls Networking and Anti-Cheat Esports.net News Open networking event for Woodley businesses – Wokingham.Today Wokingham.Today Cisco to Acquire Isovalent to Define the Future of Multicloud Networking and Security Cisco Newsroom Montana State business college helps students develop networking skills Montana State University Massive News for Palo Alto Networks Stock Investors! Yahoo Finance 63% of known exploited vulnerabilities found on healthcare networks HealthITSecurity Cisco Networking Academy's NFL Apprentice Cisco Newsroom Obscure social networking app causes problems at Bates College Lewiston Sun Journal Neos Networks beefs up C-suite to prep for new phase of accelerated growth ComputerWeekly.com Networking: an opportunity or an obstacle for women? The Conversation Juniper amps up AI networking plans Network World Why DoD needs 5G private networks for training Federal News Network Juniper Networks Unveils 'Next Generation' Of AI Networking With New Platform, Data Center Updates CRN Orange deploys Infinera's GX Series networking platform in French backbone project - Telecompaper EN Learning, Networking, and Connecting in Singapore · Babson Thought & Action Babson Thought & Action Announcing new comprehensive proactive networking professional services for Cisco to help increase network ... IBM Newsroom Effective Networking Is About Giving, Not Just Taking INSEAD Knowledge |
RELATED ARTICLES
Community Involvement Networking It is important for you to join at least one service club in your area to help your small business in the community. It might be wise to get with other small businesses which are friends and figure out how each of you can join a different service club to maximize your word of mouth referral base in the community. How Well Do Your Customers Know You? Know your customer, know your customer, know your customer. Three very important rules of business. Networking: Breaking into the Buzz Breaking into conversational groups is one of the things people ask me about when I'm conducting networking sessions. There's a buzz that hovers over a crowded room that comes from all those people conversing. Flying High, Flying Far "What me? Sell myself? You have to be joking!"This was the response I received from one of my clients when I suggested that she needed to get out there and promote herself. She had to "network". 34 Power Affirmations for Networking with the Affluent Here are 34 affirmations I have created after studying the book "Networking with the Affluent" by Dr. Thomas Stanley. Five Best Ways To Build A Network I have been working from home on the internet for over 3 years now. 18 months of that was spent trying out various different programs trying to find things that would work for me and this done nothing more than cost me thousands of dollars and also caused me to neglect my family friends and my health, as a result I then took a break from internet marketing and got my life in order. When Gifts Say More What's a gift mean? If you're like me, you probably focus on the giving and the getting.But, have you thought of gifts as a medium, a channel, for communication? In a book called The Gift, French anthropologist Marcel Mauss argues that gifts are universally used to create and manage relationships. Build Your Business through Strategic Networking Networking - it's the latest business trend. Or is it?Actually, business owners have always engaged in the art and science of networking. Networking - Facts to Ponder Right here in Europe, the very last continent to enter into its growth cycle, there is only around 0.5% involved and we are right at the very beginning of our growth cycle in network marketing. Networking: Strangers, Friendship, and Business Growth You already know that uncomfortable feeling, that knot in your stomach that forms, when you enter a room, a bus, or any other location where only you and a total stranger occupy the formerly quiet space. What do you say? Do you say anything? Do you even dare make eye contact? Do you locate a point exactly 180 away from the other person and make that spot your own?Why is it that we are so uncomfortable with strangers, after all, aren't they just people like ourselves? They simply have the unfortunate luck of also being alone in a confined space with a stranger. Unforgettable First Impressions Part 1: Discover the CPI People like others whom they are like. So if you want to make a flawless first impression, it is your duty to discover what you have in common with every person you talk to. Increase Your Sales by 30% Using Internet Collaboration Networks Small businesses are really excluded from the global economySmall businesses from many different industries, both traditional and hi-tech, have discovered a new way for them to succeed in the "global economy".It involves collaboration on large proposals, R&D and fulfilment of orders assisted by relatively low cost, virtual collaboration technology. Online Business Networking: How Personal is Too Personal? Online networking has opened up some fantastic business opportunities for solo entrepreneurs. You can open an account with one of the major online business networks such as Ryze, and get to know industrious and inspiring minds from all corners of the world. 5 Ways to Wow People Who Wear Nametags People wear nametags more often than you think. The majority of retail establishments, stores and other social gatherings require nametags for several purposes. Mother Said - Wash Your Hands Think health articles are boring? This one isn't, so read on - it may save your life.. Land the Ideal Job Using Social Networks With at least 60% of job-seekers finding employment through networking, it's no wonder that people are turning to their colleagues and acquaintances for advice and help in finding employment. The old adage, "It's not what you know, but who you know" rings true when it comes to sources of labor in today's economy. Unforgettable First Impressions Part 3: Time is (Not) On Your Side You only have three seconds?Connect in under a minute?People decide if they like you within the first ninety seconds?Make the sale in the first five seconds?You get the job within four minutes?Always make a friend in less than 30 seconds?Ahhhhhhhhhh!! Which one is right!?I've read almost every book on first impressions, and the primary issue addressed tends to be time. (Or lack thereof. Savvy Networking: Grow Your Business and Your Career Did you know that contacts are the bread of career life? In times of change, information and relationships are a source of power. Savvy networking will help you to tap into this power to grow your business and your career. Discover Your Own Source Of Business Leads Generating new business leads is critical in your success, no matter what business you're in. Being aware of certain principals can help you increase your business leads list and generate an explosion of sales. How to Get More Visibility, Increase Your Influence, and Get More Referrals Earlier today I was helping a client develop a better strategy to generate more referrals from local businesses. While that particular client owns an orthodontic practice, the ideas I gave him will work equally well in your business. |
home | site map |
© 2006 |