“It´s a lifestyle, not a work style.
The best networkers don´t know that they´re networking.
because for them it´s a way of life”
– Susan Roane-
Networking isn´t sales and sales isn´t networking. They’re interrelated, but they´re not the same, Top networkers repeatedly stress that they don´t network for the financial rewards, they network because they love helping people and playing matchmaker.
Networking is a marketing tool, a valuable marketing toll that successful people rely upon heavily. However, if you want long-term success, understand that networking requires a sincere desire to help others. You may be personable, you may be clever, you may have exceptional matchmaking skill, but if you´re only in it for the money or for yourself, it ultimately won’t work. Sure, you might be successful for a while, you might even have a good run, but over the long run, people will catch on and the roof will collapse. So instead of concentrating on increasing your profits, put your effort into helping others. If you do, the sales will follow as will some other pleasant surprises.
Unfortunately, many of us practice networking practice transactional networking and we only interact with whom we think the transaction is completed. We engage our network only when we need to make a sale, find a job, or get a lead. As soon as we get what we want, we drop those people off our radar screens and don´t talk to them until we need to make another transaction.
We become “network users” or engage in, as I like to call it, network drive-bys”
That said, part of the networking, magic it´s creation of converts: individuals who started networking for purely selfish, self-serving reasons often become addicted to performing selfless acts. Although they began networking in order to boost their careers or to further some personal agenda, they´re often surprised to find that building relationships, forging friendships making connections and helping others is infinitely more satisfying. They learn to understand that life is a process and start to place a higher premium on how they live rather than on what they receive.
Networking is not just about you, it´s about the group, the network, the collective, it´s not about pestering people, manipulating, or using them. It´s not keeping score, it´s not a tit-for-tat or an equal relationship. Networking values effort, it prizes sincere attempts even when they don´t achieve what everyone sought.
Connecting people together for the purpose of building relationships is the essential link needed to successfully network. To make a good connection requires more than a mere introduction; it requires the introducer to think, search, investigate or conduct research into which matches will result in strong, mutually beneficial relationships.
-
Without introductions, matches cannot be made.
-
Without matches, connections cannot be created.
-
Without connections, bond cannot form.
-
Without bonding, relationships cannot be built, and
-
Without reciprocal relationships, networks cannot last.
Networking is a microcosm of life. It´s more about how you live your life than what you receive. It´s developing expertise, giving sharing, and building relationships. It´s the realization that people and generosity are the most important things in life, nothing else comes close, and it´s making a dedicated and concerted effort to steer your life in that direction.
Jill Lublin — (Pronounced Loob-Lynn)
Jill Lublin is an international speaker on the topics of Publicity, Networking, Kindness, and Referrals. She is the author of 4 Best Selling books including Get Noticed…Get Referrals (McGraw Hill) and co-author of Guerrilla Publicity and Networking Magic. Her latest book, Profit of Kindness went #1 in four categories. Jill is a master strategist on how to position your business for more profitability and more visibility in the marketplace. She is CEO of a strategic consulting firm and has over 25 years of experience working with over 100,000 people plus national and international media. Jill teaches a virtual Publicity Crash Course and consults and speaks all over the world. She has spoken on many stages with luminaries such as Tony Robbins. Jill also leads an intentional kindness community.
Recent Comments