Networking

I am a dedicated Networker, both online, and in person

I subscribe to the ethos of “Know me, Like me, Follow me” and “Open, Random, Supportive”.

I also seek out to know and work with those of a Collaborative, and Co-operative mindset not those of a Competitive mind set. (See Games Theory)

I can be found :-

Online on:-What’s App, LinkedIn, Maltix Connect, MyMost Trusted, FSB, Facebook, Savvy Shay Business Club, 10M,  ClubPIP, 55, ECI, Connections for Impact, Energy of Success and several more

and Live at:-, Spelthorne Business Forum, Clarus Fortior, Phoenix, RichmondFSB, Omni (Assorted), Connections, Guildford, InterNations..and dozens of Business and Trade shows Local, National and International!

He was on:-SunTzu (was Ecademy)XingBusiness Biscotti GoldBusiness SceneBusiness Advocacy WeybridgeCompany Directors NetworkingBusiness Networking in ChertseyBusiness Biscotti (Chobham, Wentworth, Walton, Reading)Blackstar First Friday…. and many others, over the last 50 years. He thinks that he’s, now, getting the hang of it. 🙂

Here are Maurice’s thoughts on networks and how to network:-

• Networking is for people who like, and are interested in, other people.

• A Network is unlikely to be a marketplace for most things.

• Selling directly to a Network is unlikely to be successful, unless, as in all products and services, there is a distinct and clear need (Business Cards and office consumables are good examples of need)• 

• It’s not about who is in front of you, it’s about who they know, and will recommend you to. (the six degrees of separation?)

• But they won’t recommend you if they don’t, know, like, follow and trust you, so you have to get to know them, well, first.

• The value is often in the links not the nodes.

• People will probably not remember you well until you’ve met them or corresponded with them at least 7 times.

• Regular activity is everything – as are intensive 1-2-1 meetings!

• At a 1-2-1 (which should really last at least 1 hour) the objective is that each party tries to find as much out about the other party as they can with a view to knowing enough about them to be able to recommend them and their services to others afterwards.

Typical 1-2-1 questions might address, but are certainly not limited to:

• What they do and how they do it.

• Why they went into the business they are in

• Where they live and their interests and family situation.• How much they charge and for what services.

• How long they’ve been in business

• What their marketplace is like

• What their problems and pain are.

• What they think you might be able to do for them

• What sort of contact they are looking for

• What do you like about: - me/my services/our products/our performances/our delivery/our approach/other?

• What do you dislike about: - me/my services/our products/our performances/our delivery/our approach/other?

• What could I/we improve about what we do/supply?

• What are we not suppling that you wish that we could?

• Who do you know that you will recommend us to and why would you do that for me?

• (Any other question that helps you get a really good feel for, or overview, of their business and needs)

Purpose of Networking:-

You are NOT trying to pitch a network for business! That is what you do in a Marketplace!

• You ARE trying to turn your contacts into referrers, product champions, recommenders and supporters – Oh, and, of course, friends, along the way!

• You are trying to follow the relationship path of :- “Know me, Like me, Follow me, Trust me, Work with me.”

• Reputation is everything and it should be borne in mind that everything you do, both in person and online, will affect your reputation.

• The Guang Xi principle (China!)generally applies to networking, especially in the Far east. This process is loosely as follows :-

In the Guan Xi process:

• First you meet someone by chance, introduction or serendipity

• Then you meet more times until you know them

• Then you meet more times until you like them

• Then you meet more times until you trust them

• Then you meet more times until you are able to do business with them

• Then, after doing business for some time, you have the confidence in them to refer them to others in your network on a one to one and personal basis.

• In this way you gain Guan Xi because you made a useful recommendation to your contact, you also gain Guan Xi from the person you recommended and give Guan Xi to the person you recommended by showing that you can trust them with your precious and hard won network relationships.

• If you are recommended and you mess up the assignment or relationship, this places VERY bad Guan Xi on just about everyone and is very serious indeed. You must thus take extra care with those you are recommended to so as not to place bad Guan Xi on the person who helped you by referring you.

Other Networking suggestions:-

• Never go Networking without Business Cards—in fact never go anywhere without them.

• You can and should network anywhere once you get the hang of it – you don’t just network on line, or at dedicated network events, but on trains, and ‘planes, at tradeshows, and conferences, and many other, places and events.

• The aim is to get to know people and as well as is possible so that they will lke you and want to know more.

• Have your elevator pitch sorted out and practiced so that you can describe what you do in a sentence or two. A good template is “I specialise in helping *Job Title or people type* to * action verb and benefit* by *description of how you provide benefit*”.

For example:

“I specialise in helping: Entrepreneurs, Founders, Directors, Business Owners, and Charities to improve their businesses by providing high quality Marketing Services and also Mentoring to improve individual’s marketing skills and knowledge”

BUT, what if you change your mindset, to; "How might I help them, or do the best for them, or be aware in all my interactions of who in my network would do them the most good" 

 If you lived that, over time, you'd find 'Karma' repaying; but not as you expect but as the 'universe' decrees. Often not as you expect, so let your expectations be on the side. Remember FB was built to facilitate MZ's friends at uni hooking up and forming alliances. IMO he's lost the ethos, more than a bit, but look where it lead, for good or ill!