Business and Finance

Dear Wendy,

I am brand new to networking. I just joined two different groups, so I’m meeting people, but no one has ever taught me how to build a healthy network. Any advice?

Dear Courageous Socialite;

You have my congratulations.

Not because you are consciously building a network – lots of people do that – but because you are taking the responsibility for whether your network is toxic or effective. Bravo to you!

Here are the first three rules, let me know when you’re ready for more:

Say good things: It doesn’t impress anyone when you share that you had a hard time finding the place, or that traffic was bad, or that your allergies are kicking in. You are impressive though when you compliment a board member on bringing in a great speaker, or thank the president for a meeting well run, or volunteer to serve on a committee. When you’re new you get the golden once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make first impressions. Make them good.

Continue reading ‘I Am Brand New to Networking’ »

In American surveys 88% of the population says they are shy. If you’re in that group networking events are uncomfortable. It seems that the friendly people interrupt conversations to hand their business card to strangers. That perception isn’t reality.

Friendly people use their eyes to guarantee a warm welcome from everyone in the room.

First Make Eye Contact: Eye contact always comes before words. The farther away you are when you make eye contact, the more time you give the person to remember you and think of a way to introduce you to their current conversation partners.

At 10 Feet, Smile: Your smile signals that you are going to join them. You’ll get a warm welcome because they are expecting you.

At 3 Feet, Extend Your Hand: In our culture a handshake is a business requirement.

Continue reading ‘Network Eyes First’ »

Paint-by-number kits first appeared in 1951. By 1954, twelve million kits had been sold.

While there were critics, of course, (“It’s too formulaic”; “It isn’t really art”; “It’s tacky”) paint-by-number kits gave aspiring artists results they were proud of, and bought again.

Richard Hess’s portrait of President Lyndon Johnson as an incomplete paint-by-number work was even exhibited at the Louvre in Paris. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has a current exhibit about this universally accessible art form.

Imagine if you had the template, the numbers, to build a network.

Here are 4:

Be visibly active in 3 different types of associations: That’s the number of people you need to be in regular contact with in order to get and give referrals.

Follow through 5 times with each person you meet: This year’s NASE survey once again found that 80% of all sales or referrals happen after the 5th to 7th contact.

Continue reading ‘Network by the Numbers’ »

Chris confessed:

“I am not shy. I can talk to anybody, but I would rather be funny and amusing than taken seriously. (It is safer.) I end up ‘performing’ and make no progress. How do I get past this?”

Kim complained:

“He’s asked me five times if he can give me a quote on my insurance. So now, I just avoid him at meetings.”

Here’s what I think: I think Chris fears people will think he is like the person Kim is talking about. How unattractive.

Continue reading ‘How to Overcome the Fear of Networking’ »