Know Your Network.
Know Your Network.
Having been actively networking for many years, there is one thing I’ve learned from going to social mixers: There are networkers and then there are “master networkers.” There are also many people who go to networking events and socialize with the other attendees. For the most part, they tend to be content just saying hello to people who they probably already know, enjoying some cheese and crackers, and perhaps having a glass of wine. This is not really networking. This is called socializing.
Networking is the practice of meeting new people in the hopes of creating business connections either between you and someone you meet or between people you introduce to one another. You may also be connected to someone previously only known to the person you met at the networking function. Now, this is really what networking is all about. But, then there are those “master networkers” I mentioned earlier.
A master networker not only knows more people than the other mixer participants but connects more people as well. Master networkers don’t worry about getting business for themselves. They are so good at networking and introducing others to one another that they get more than their share of business through serendipity. People seek out master networkers because “they seem to know everyone.” If you meet a master networker at a mixer, you will probably get more referrals and introductions from the master networker that all of the other people you meet at the mixer combined. That is because it’s a point of pride for a master networker to build value for other people.
If you want to become a master networker yourself, here are some easy steps to follow. First, get comfortable remembering people’s names. If it doesn’t come naturally to you, you can practice. Use and repeat a person’s name when introducing him or her to someone new. It will make it easier for you. Next, make a point of introducing new contacts to the people you already know. No one likes to feel like an outsider at a mixer. Help the person feel included and he or she will remember you as a rescuer. Third, send a personalized thank-you note to each person you meet at a mixer for the very first time. It’s a great way to stay at the top of someone’s mind even after the mixer is over. This will also put you in a category of one. And fourth, follow up with each person you met for the very first time a couple of days later and ask, “How will I know when I am speaking with someone who would be a good referral for you?” This is a great icebreaker question and will help you continue to network for that new contact even after the mixer is over. The more you do this, the more of your networking contacts will become your clients.
“The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work.”
– Robert Kiyosaki
(This excerpt is taken from my seminar entitled Become a Master Networker.) I encourage you to click here to register for my Become a Master Networker seminar on Thursday, January 19, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at Melhorn Manor in Mount Joy, PA. This seminar will also be available through live streaming.
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