How to use the power of online and offline networking for business and career success
A good friend of mine, Rob Brown has a great quote, which I often recite: “stop counting conversations, and make conversations count” Which is so true. However, in my opinion, so many people spend all their networking effort and time collecting contacts. Whereas, in my view effective business networking is about ‘finding, building and maintaining [...]
Whenever I run a networking workshop I always ask my delegates to literally map out their ideal network. I find that this exercise really helps delegates focus on WHO they want to meet, and how these people are going to help them achieve their business and career goals. This may sound rather calculating or manipulative. [...]
I was running a workshop last week, where one of the attendees declared she needed to be more fussy with her networking. Fussy? Come again, how does this fit with being a great networker? In fact one of my network told me that I was, and always had been, a very fussy networker. I think [...]
continued from yesterday… 4. You may find that many of your ex-school and ex-university friends may now be in a position where they need to grow their network. They actually may welcome the conversation. You lose nothing by asking and remembering to ask permission to have the conversation. 5. Ask a mate to come and [...]
I was running a couple of workshops today for a group of accountants in a top six accountancy practice. Pretty much everyone asked this question; “how do I start to have business conversations with my friends?” The subtext of course being, ‘how do I win work from my friends?’ A valid question, and one that [...]
But, BNI (or insert name of any formal business breakfast networking group) is not for me I hear you wail…. it’s too structured for me. It’s true not everyone likes or gets structured networking groups for many reasons: 1) turning up regularly (or getting a sub) gets to be a bit of a bind 2) [...]
I’ve run nearly ten workshops on networking over the last six months and in many of those workshops, the elevator pitch has featured. This is the short, normally capped at 60 seconds, ‘pitch’ (or minute of sheer fear) that most structured networking groups or events make you trot out. I have to admit that when [...]
Whether you are a visitor or a regular, there is nothing worse than hearing someone ramble and waffle their way through their 60 second pitch. You want to be succinct and crisp in your delivery. I suggest that you use a structure similar to this: Part 1: The introduction Introduce yourself by the value you [...]
Jon Baker is a Business Coach, Sales Trainer and Experienced Public Speaker. Jon specialises in working with partners and owners from the smaller professional practices.