Everyone knows that to be successful in today's world you need to network. It doesn’t really matter if you are using your network to find next job or to fund a billion dollar deal. Your network is your net worth. So naturally we try to grow our network and utilize existing connections, but some people seem to be better at this than others.
This week I came across a very inspiring video by Lisa Mattam, who was nominated by Profit Magazine in 2009 as one of the top 10 emerging women entrepreneurs in Canada. In her talk, Lisa offers very clear Strategies for Successful Networking.
1. Know your brand
Remember in Bridget Jones's Diary Introduce people with thoughtful details. Such as: "This is Mark Darcy. Mark's a top barrister. He comes from Grafton Underwood. ..."
How do you want to be introduced? What do you want people to recognize in you? When networking, make first 30 seconds most impactful. Introduce yourself by answering these two questions
What do you do that is truly unique and what have you done that has impact
- Build your message
Have you ever come back from an event and found your mailbox full of “Nice to meet you” messages? And then what? You didn’t connect to these people just to keep you company that night. Make sure you clearly state what is your message to people you’ve met. Are you offering help? Or may be looking for support? Or whatever it happens to be, make sure to give people on the other end a reason to connect back with you.
- Develop a map (how will you know where you are going?)
After you first signed up for Facebook, all over sudden your kindergarten friends who you haven’t seen for ages want to keep up with your news. But is it any good in growing your useful network? Social networks are a very powerful tools if used wisely.
Create an actual map of your network, but include only people you had meaningful connection, not just met once. Analyze your network map:
- How big is it? Do you need to grow it?
- How interconnected is it? Do people you know also connect with each other? If they do you actually need access to only one of them to have access to full network.
- How diverse is your network? And not only culturally diverse. What sectors are represented? What roles? Levels?
- Where do you have gaps?
- Be consistent
Do you get back to people when you promise? Do you reply to e-mails promptly, even when reply is just “I’ll get back to you in 3 days”? People will keep you in their network if they can rely on you. They will refer you to other people if they can trust you.
- Embrace the unexpected
Your network can expand in many ways, shapes and forms. You can find new missing pieces of your map on the street, in the gym or at the grocery store. Be ready to embrace what chance has to offer you.
