How business networking really works

There are some people you meet who seem to 'get' networking instinctively. People seem to gravitate to them with a regular stream of opportunities for them and their business. They don't engage in the face to face equivalent of cold calling They spend most of their time with a regular close group of associates and advocates and a lesser amount of time making new contacts. They are active as participants, leaders and advocates of their networking groups.

They know that success from networking is about building relationships. Strengthening their existing ones and building appropriate new ones. They know that the best route to people they don't yet know is through an introduction or recommendation from someone they do.

It can be tempting to think that networking is about finding places and people you don't know. We can learn that is not from those who are successful through networking. As is often the case it's the counter intuitive approach that works. Network with the people you know to get to the ones you don't.

As Andy Lopata posted on Twitter yesterday "networking put simply is working with others to achieve more than we could achieve on our own.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke

Crash course in networking

I received a telephone call just before one of our lunches from a journalist. He was writing a piece for Management Today about networking and wanted to pick my brains.

What are the key things about networking, he asked. Decide what you want to get out of it (be strategic), I said. Also, don't expect results immediately - it's all about developing relationships and that takes time.

His article is in the August edition of Management Today and is called Crash course in networking.

Martin Davies
NRG Business Networks