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Business networking – when being connected brings out the best

Business networking – when being connected brings out the best

October 19, 2015

Via: itCurated

A network of professionals is a structured group of business people manifesting its presence virtually or locally, growing, maturing and developing in order to provide key advantages to its members. HBR identifies three unique advantages delivered by this business networking as such: “private information, access to diverse skill sets, and power.”

A network displays an architecture/a structure of clusters, as well as pathways of information whose nodes reside in influencers. Another key role in such a social group is that of the information broker, the almighty connector of people and ideas. Sometimes, one role does not exclude the other. Being connected to such networks enhances the business opportunities, creates and maintains a community of shared interests, information and skills.

The why in business networking

As in other social life areas, businesses need to share a connected space, where vital information is passed around, people and ideas are introduced, validated and tested. Business networking is a vital factor in marketing, and most networked businesses “tend to be open, random and supportive”. This type of activity is low-cost and it involves personal commitment and standing the trial of time and of feedback. We are talking about relationship building and the process is highly complex.

Some people are natively endowed with the gift of networking – it’s in their nature. Others have to learn how to professionally get in touch, listen, give information and build relationships. Each personality eventually finds its place in the network, as long as it applies the best practices, trains its skills and delivers on its word.

Starting from the etymology of the word itself, networking can be broken down to 3 components, which go like this:

  • Working (preparing, committing, making efforts) FOR
  • Creating
  • (a) Network of peers, contacts, business-fellows.

Once created and assumed, networking is part of the job, but also part of your abilities. And it delivers whenever needed.

The how in business networking

There are many tips for networking, some of them from professionals, which have learned this skill as they would a foreign language, and some from those who trained their native gifts by analyzing and continuous learning.

Here are, in review, a few sets of tips. The ten essential principles of business networking look like this: elevator speech/pitch (concise, impressive self-description), standing-out attitude (differentiating the speaker from the rest), helping attitude (prior to requesting help yourself), personal integrity (very important since it builds trust and reputation), focused and relevant targeting (selecting the essential groups and contacts to better serve your business), networking management (constructing a plan that integrates your activities with your business goals), promises and engagements follow-up, positive influencing, calibrated effort (intense, yet long term) and, finally, overall life balance (reflects on your attitude and on the way others perceive you).

Other recommendations add to these principles mentioned above: politeness (thus being able to manage politely various possible situations in your network), previous research activities (in order to know some facts about your business partners, as well as be informed about the networking events and be able to choose which events you want to attend), punctuality, a quality offer of referrals and leads – since it will reflect on your reputation, and an overall attitude of decency in contacting your interlocutors or providing follow-up details (such as making sure first that you have the agreement of the concerned party).

Another set of advice has to do with the networking persona. Being a well-informed, resourceful business professional makes one’s presence even more visible and his/hers opinion matter. Remaining authentic and genuine while integrating all the business demands is another plus feature. Mingling – as many groups as possible, mapping out the positives and the negatives, learning from these experiences – is also good. Giving back (even beforehand) is recommended – establish a percentage of your networking activities dedicated to volunteering, offering help and being overall generous in your actions.

The where

The online business networking is highly on the rise, even if we’re talking B2B. Social media networking has always been powerful, and nowadays the face-to-face meetings still hold the highest part of this activity, but the digital networking is gaining space and momentum.

LinkedIn (the highest ranking platform in business activities), Facebook, Twitter, Ning!, Yahoo Groups, blogging, other professional online communities that enable dialogue – all these are networking means. One just has to choose whichever suits him best in reuniting with its peers. There are rules and tips here too – and step by step each member of these virtual groups can master their specificity.

Combined with the classical in-person networking, this digital presence adds to your image and may determine a decision in your favor when the score is tight. A relationship nurtured this way may just put you ahead of your competition when the moment comes.

The who

As we already mentioned, some are born for this, others just have to make an effort and learn networking. But once acquired, this skill is a lifelong one that can be chiseled into a lifestyle. Getting to know people with whom one shares common interests leads to an enriched experience and ideas go by in both directions.

It’s not only about the data, it’s also about the people. While benefiting your business and maturing as a businessperson, you get to know many typologies, to make mistakes and learn from them, to observe how some manage things differently and learn from each new good idea.

It might also be that some do not seem made for this kind of activity – but when their business trajectory has a word to say – they are adopted into the professional community even though their people skills are more reserved. They might just act into it, or they might be mentor figures, thinkers rather that speakers, men of action rather that of words.

Baseline for business networking

Yet generally, networking is defined by a few main elements. Also described as the art of building relationships before even needing them, it usually comprises pro-activity, focus, strategy, integrity and commitment.

In addition, if you want a few words about getting started with networking – here is an article for startup launchers.

If you are at the beginning with business networking, having an ensemble image is useful. Creating a strategy is even better, even if it just serves as an initial road-map. It might seem difficult for those who do not see themselves as socialites, but thinking of it as an acquirable ability is right, and it can provide the beneficial focus and positive attitude.

Those who are veterans in business networking, but still feel that their activities leave room for improvement might find it harder to identify the points for change. Even so, a comparative study of the standard approach versus the real-life interactions might prompt out where things need an upgrade.