Networking is a very simple process. Unfortunately today’s business environment does not make it easy. We’ve got to work through our time-crunched schedules, unrealistic expectations and negative stereotypes before we can make networking a regular and productive part of our routine.

One of the biggest stereotypes of networking is that it is a very complex process requiring extreme social skills. There are only four very basic steps:

• Go places
• Meet people & get to know them
• Do something for them
• Follow up

You will repeat these steps over and over again, sometimes within a short period of time (even within the timeframe of one event), but usually spread over a few days. These steps will apply to your overall networking cycle, but also apply to each one of your contacts, new and established.

Go Places

Going places can be something as big as a regional trade show or as personal as coffee with just one or two people. The key is that you are somehow getting yourself in personal contact with other people. Yes, there is a rapidly growing trend toward Social Networking where people do business with someone they’ve met digitally, but if it came down to doing business with them or a person you’ve met and seen personally, chances are you will do business with the people you know in person seen. Face-to-face networking is still going to be the dominant form of business partnering for many years, especially if you live or work in a small city that is not on either coast of the U.S.

For some people, this is the most difficult step of all. They have a negative image of networking events, build up excuses in their mind, and allow their time-constraints to keep them away from events.

Unless you can figure out a way to meet people without going anywhere (and going online IS going somewhere), you are going to be severely limited in your networking results.

Meet People and Get to Know Them

Your goal in going places is to make face-to-face contact with like-minded people. Like-minded does not mean “the same,” in fact some of the most productive networking is done with groups of people you have never explored before. “Like-minded” means they also believe in networking as relationship building and as an investment in their long-term future. If they are like-minded, then you do not have to worry whether it is appropriate to approach someone you’ve never met.

When you meet people, your goal is to get to know then personally. This misconception that every bit of conversation you have with someone has to be business-oriented has turn off more people than almost any other. If you believe that every conversation has to be completely business oriented, it will get boring. And you’ll feel like you’re selling (or being sold) because the conversation will come around to what you have to offer.

We are social creatures. Most of us enjoy our work, but it doesn’t define us. We enjoy talking about our personal lives, family, and hobbies. It really is okay to talk about our personal lives (as long as it’s not too personal) because this is how we discover what we have in common.

Finding common ground is the foundation of most relationships. Whether it’s a sport you both enjoy, the same hobby, or growing up in the same city, having something in common makes it much easier to build rapport and develop a friendly relationship.

Do Something For Them

While it’s nice to get to know someone and talk about the things you enjoy in common, the real depth of a relationship is created when you help the other person out. This is the source of the saying “Givers gain.” In networking, it is vital that you give first and give often.

Giving creates a sense of gratitude. It brings you to the attention of the person you helped. They will start to think of you as helpful and as a resource. If they have come to see you as a problem-solver, you will be the natural choice when they or someone they know needs the product or service you provide. You will have become their “go to” person.

Follow Up

“The fortune is in the follow up.” If you’re in direct selling, you’ve heard this phrase hundreds of times. If you haven’t heard it, commit it to memory. Understand this statement means you realize that the sale is rarely made the first time you meet someone, the relationship is rarely developed at introduction and the event is rarely where the long-term network-building activities take place.

If you want to develop a reputation as being caring, giving, and reliable, follow up with every person you meet and follow up every time you do something for them. Do you have a hard time figuring out what to say in that first email besides “itwasnicemeetingyouIhopetoseeyouagain?” To avoid that, find something you can do for them in that first follow up message. If you got to know even on thing about their background or hobbies, do a quick search on Squidoo or AllTop for a great page of information that they would appreciate. Now your follow up is “It was nice to meet you. I remember how enthusiastic you are about gardening, so I was pleased to find this site that you might enjoy.”

Fewer than 10% of people actually follow up after a first meeting. If you use this approach, you will be in the top 1%.

Also follow up when you give something to someone, but not every time. You would hope that when you send an email, a magazine article, or other piece of information, that the other person would acknowledge it with some kind of response or even a thank you. But that may not happen, either their mother didn’t teach them excellent manners, or the information you provided got lost. Simply prompt them the next time you see them, “Did you get that article I sent you?” This not only gives them an opening to acknowledge receipt, it also reminds them of what you did for them.

A very appropriate time to follow up is when you give someone a referral. Because you are involved in the process, your reputation is on the line. You either gave that person a reference to someone who needed their product or services, or you helped them find someone whose product or services they needed. Either way, you need to find out if that transaction was completed to both parties satisfaction. A quick phone call or email to say “Did you get in touch with Joe?” is sufficient. If the ball was dropped, you can help them pick it up again, too.

Conclusion

Apply these steps to your networking cycle. Go places, get to know people, give them something, follow-up. Do this for each place you go. When you start going back to the same events and activities, you’ll start to see some of the same people. Apply the cycle to each one of them. One time through the steps is not going to create a lasting relationship with anyone. You must continue to get to know them better, do something for them, and follow up.

Networkers who are responsible for sales will find that this cycle can become a positive cycle of increasing trust and depth of relationship. If your product is well-known, an impulse item, low-cost, or has a short sales cycle, you may find that a sales opportunity will come early in your relationship. If you have a complex product, with a long sales cycle, or a great deal of competition, you are going to have to invest more time and make more rounds of the networking cycle with each person you meet.

Keep in mind that the selling process is separate from the networking cycle. Think of networking as four simple steps to keep yourself from being overwhelmed. Don’t neglect any portion of the cycle and you’ll find that the results of your efforts will come sooner than expected.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit Meeting Wave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

What if you enjoy networking so much or you are so excited by your product that you find yourself gushing with enthusiasm when you talk to people? You know that you want to be a good listener and not overwhelm people with words and stories, but you just have a hard time containing yourself. Here are is a three part plan for making your enthusiasm work for you.

1) Start by Cherishing This Quality in Yourself

The worst thing to do is berate yourself for your enthusiasm and try to kill it. If you’re like me, sometimes you get carried away at an event and then you feel foolish or embarrassed thinking about it later. You can be a bit rueful and decide to harness it better next time, but never try to get rid of or squash your enthusiasm. It is a positive and charming trait. Most people will find your vivacity to be enjoyable and energizing for them. While a few may chuckle over what they see as naivety, no one wants to be around someone who is lethargic and apathetic.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

2) Channel and Focus Your Enthusiasm

Rather than letting your enthusiasm come out of your mouth in the form of an uninterrupted stream of words, think of letting it come out everywhere else. Allow your smile to be bigger, allow your eyes to sparkle, laugh a little louder and have your hands and body show your energy. Encourage the person who is talking by being enthusiastic about what *they* are saying. They will remember the way you made them feel – more alive and enjoying life.

Practice being a better listener, making sure that you don’t monopolize the conversation. Remember that you can only help someone if you hear them tell you what they need in the first place. Consider finding an outlet in by speaking to groups of people…you won’t be interrupted for one thing. Plus, everyone enjoys an enthusiastic speaker.

3) When It Does Get Away From You…

Occasionally, you will realize that you’ve been spouting and monopolizing the conversation. Do not get flustered. As soon as you realize what’s happening, stop yourself – in the middle of a word if necessary. You can look a bit embarrassed, but don’t get upset or feel humiliated. Acknowledge, apologize and redirect the conversation.

“I’m sorry for talking your ear off. I get so excited about this new product (or my new business or the success that I’ve had with this company) that I get carried away. Please, I really want to hear about you. What are you enthusiastic about?”

With this kind of self-awareness, apology and question, the other person will not only forgive you, but they will find you to be authentic, friendly, and charming.

Conclusion

Never be ashamed of your enthusiasm. It is a force that will propel you to great success. Channeled properly, it will make you more likeable and it will help you become a great networker. Be aware of how you’re using it and don’t let it run away with you. Have a plan for when you do let go and use it as an opportunity to build a relationship. Stay enthusiastic and keep networking.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit Meeting Wave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

If you are new to networking, one of the most difficult things to do is introduce yourself to complete strangers. We grew up being told “don’t talk to strangers.” Most of us don’t fear strangers, especially at a business networking event, yet we may feel awkward approaching someone we’ve never met. Here are several ways to help you approach people you don’t know at networking events.

First, remember that meeting new people is the purpose of most networking events. This is not like talking to strangers at the grocery store. People should expect to meet new people when they attend business-oriented networking activities. Many of them may be very shy and are hoping that someone else will make the initial approach. Not only is it appropriate to you’ll approach strangers, but it is probably appreciated by many of the people who are there.

With this in mind (that meeting new people is the purpose), you can create a scenario of success in your head. Do not imagine that people are going to reject you; that will make you anxious and nervous. Remind yourself that your introduction is welcome.

Prepare in advance by calling the host or hostess to ask if they will introduce you to a few people when you arrive. They should be willing to get you started with someone who knows other people there and would be willing to introduce you to more.

Watch your own body language to make sure you are approachable. Don’t cross your arms, and when talking to just one other person, stand at an angle to them. This creates a more open look to your conversation and encourages other people to approach you.

Look for other people who are standing by themselves. If you make eye contact, smile and walk over to introduce yourself. If they are there alone, you can also use the buddy system to meet more people.

The purpose of business networking events is for you to meet and make contact with people, many of whom you’ve never met. Still, it’s natural to feel some insecurity or nervousness. And, most importantly, they are there to do the same thing. To them, you are the stranger. They may feel just as nervous about meeting you. By taking the initiative, you’ve made them more comfortable and yourself more likable. Remember these tips and you’ll feel more confident and will meet more people to grow your network.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit Meeting Wave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

In the early days of education in America, children were taught the “Three R’s:” Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. As business professionals, we also need to learn our R’s if we want to be successful at networking. In today’s time-crunched, capital-starved economy, networking will emerge as one of the most powerful tools in your business development arsenal. When times get tough, the survivors go back to the basics. Building a strong network of mutually beneficial relationships that you can depend on is as basic as it gets.

And yet, networking has been looked down on, discounted, and treated as the domain of pitchmen, MaryKay ladies, and Chamber of Commerce hangers-on. If you want your small business to survive in the future, you’ve got to ignore the sour grapes of the naysayers and develop your own strong and effective networking strategy. It can be as simple as the ABC’s or in this case, the Four R’s: Relationships, Reputation, Resources, and Referrals.

The First R: Relationships

It’s difficult to make time for purposeless activities where we can see no meaning or benefit. Networking is the same; many people believe it is a waste of time or doesn’t work. They don’t see – and therefore don’t have for themselves – a clear purpose. There is only one reason to network: to develop relationships. It is the foundation for achieving any other goal you have for networking.

The relationships that you form will help you in nearly every aspect of your business. These benefits can be easily categorized into the other three R’s of networking: Reputation, Resources, and Referrals, and.

The Second R: Reputation

Why is cold-calling so difficult and inexpensive? Because the people you are calling have no reliable way of knowing whether or not they can trust you. Unless you’ve spent millions of dollars to become a household name, they will be talking to a complete stranger whom they have no way of knowing anything about. Networking is effective in building your business because you develop a reputation before you begin to do business with them. Often, they do business with you because they know you well enough to trust that the product or service you are offering is beneficial too them.

Networking builds your reputation by allowing other people to get to know you and to learn from your actions over a period of time whether they can trust you or not.

The Third R: Resources

When we entered the Information Age, some people thought we’d find that information alone would be valuable. Instead, there is so much of it that it’s sometimes not worth our time to search the usual sources. Those who have powerful networks can simply tap into the expertise of their contact, saving time and avoiding costly errors. Your network can also provide you with contacts and sources of timely knowledge.

You will benefit from the collective wisdom and experience of your network when you develop mutually beneficial and trusting relationships.

The Fourth R: Referrals

Up to 90% of job openings are never publicized. Except for government contracts where they have to publish their request for vendors, very few businesses advertise that they are looking for products and service providers. You’ll find out about the needs that your direct contacts have because you’ll have established your reputation with them. While some dedicated networkers are able to maintain massive, active networks of thousands of people, it’s likely that you have consistent contact with 200 to 300 people. This is not usually enough to sustain your business. You are going to need these contacts to keep you in mind when they are doing business with their 200 to 300 regular contacts. Now your network is closer to 50,000 people. Having a potential client base of 50,000 can be a powerful incentive to network.

Developing a reliable stream of referrals takes time, but once your network has been asked, encouraged, and rewarded for sending their friends, family, and business contacts to you, you’ll find that the process can become a significant part of your business.

Conclusion

You may not have time to go back to school, but you can take a page from the history of education. Apply the four R’s – Relationships, Reputation, Resources, and Referrals – to your business networking strategy and you may become an old-fashioned success story.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit Meeting Wave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Rarely will you hear someone actually say out loud that they don’t network because they don’t like other people. They might not think of it as disliking other people. It might be stated as avoiding sales people, or not having the time to spend, or that the event doesn’t attract their kind of crowd. However it is stated or thought, it is one of the reasons that some people don’t get themselves “out there” and into networking events. If you don’t like and enjoy spending time with people, you’re going to have a very hard time getting results from networking.

Expert networkers develop a wonderful ability to like, appreciate, and enjoy the company of nearly every one they meet. It’s not just the extroverts, either. Introverts who are excellent networkers also build their capacity for getting enjoyment from other people (just fewer at a time).

Why is it so important to expert networkers to have a great capability to like nearly everyone they meet?

They know that you get back what you put out. If you like other people and treat them as interesting and worthwhile, they will treat you the same way.

Any hint of disdain, distaste or dislike, no matter how well hidden, will be sensed by other people. They may not know realize exactly what is going on in the other person’s mind, but they will feel uncomfortable around them and will avoid their company.

Experienced networkers also know that disliking other people for their human characteristics is dangerously close to many ‘isms’. If they dislike someone, it is specific to one person for strong reasons that are based on facts.

The final and perhaps greatest reason why successful networkers like nearly everyone they meet, is because they know that you can never tell how someone may be able to help you. If you shut the door on a future relationship because you’ve decided that you dislike something about them, then you may have lost a tremendous resource. Learn to develop your ability to like and appreciate more people and you’ll find that you have developed more opportunities.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit Meeting Wave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Do you avoid networking because you don’t like the way other people act at networking events? Here are common complaints that people have about the behaviors they encounter at networking events:

• They are always trying to sell
• they’re not friendly
• They aren’t approachable because they are huddled together in small groups
• They don’t converse, but instead complain about everything
• They try to convince you about the superiority of their cause/politics/favorite sport.

This can be true. I’ve encountered these and many other worse behaviors at networking events. But it’s more the exception than the rule, except for the selling which is a topic for another day. I find for the most part that people I meet at networking events are friendly, encouraging, and interesting.

So why do people I know who are going to the same events find that they are getting the unappealing behaviors listed above? I think there’s one of two things happening:

1. They are networking in the wrong place, or
2. It’s not other people, it’s you.

The first item shouldn’t be a problem if you’re networking at business trade shows, professional organizations, and in your Chamber of Commerce. All these activities are designed for people to meet, be friendly and discuss business.

If you’re at the right place, but you still feel like you’re always being sold, that people aren’t friendly, or you’re getting into controversial discussions with complete strangers at events: maybe it’s not them, maybe it’s you.

We get back what we project out to other people.

• If you think other people aren’t nice, that will make you feel unhappy. Then you’ll appear to be unfriendly. Only the most Pollyanna people will listen to you complain about how unfriendly everyone is. Everyone else will seem to be unfriendly because they’re avoiding you and your grumpy face.
• If you feel like other people are selling, we need to take responsibility to redirect, stop, or education them. Or, we might be getting their sales pitch because that’s how we introduced ourselves. We want to teach others that we want to build a little bit of a relationship and determine a need before we go into a sales pitch.

• If you get complaints, are you complaining yourself? Opening the conversation with a complaint brings out the competitive nature in people and they’ll respond with “Oh yeah? Listen to this!” You’ll get nothing but worse and worse stories throughout the evening (because you’ll have to top theirs, and so on).

• If you skip the small talk and going right to the vital causes in your life (politics, sports, religion) without establishing any rapport at all, you’ll reveal three kinds of people. Those who don’t want to debate the issues who will leave as soon as possible and avoid you, those who agree with you who will form a little permanent consensus cluster, and those who disagree with you (and have strong opinions themselves) who will want to convert you to their way of thinking. Then you’ll have your argument.

The next time you find yourself thinking how much you don’t like the way other people act when they network, stop and asses your own behavior first. We very often don’t realize what we’re doing. A positive change in our style will bring out the best in others, too.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit Meeting Wave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

It seems like a contradiction: trade shows attract large crowds, but introverted networkers don’t enjoy big groups of people. But there are characteristics of trade shows that make them a terrific venue for introverts to meet people, gain exposure, and learn more about their business environment.

Introverts like to study a situation and take their time before moving into a conversation or other interaction. But they feel self-conscious about standing by themselves at a mixer, after-hours, or other networking event. While they might be deep in thought, they worry that the might look anti-social. But at a trade show, you can just walk along at your own pace, not saying anything, just taking it all in, and you won’t look out of place.

While extroverts tend to not worry about talking to strangers, introverts can hesitate about making the first move. But at a trade show, you don’t have to initiate the conversation. Approach a booth, pick up some literature, and the person behind the table will start the conversation! How easy is that?

Trade shows are also a great way to be seen (be sure to wear a name badge). Remember, it’s not as much about who you know, as who knows you. Introverts can promote themselves and their business without saying a word by dropping a business card into giveaway basket. Sure, you’ll get a sales letter or call, but at least they’ll have been exposed to your name, title, and company, at least once or twice.

Other great advantages of attending trade shows:

• You don’t have to engage if you don’t want to. You can look and listen without feeling out of place.
• No need for small talk, the topic of conversation will obviously be about the show and the exhibitor booth you’re visiting.
• You don’t have to talk about yourself if you don’t want to.
• You can pick and choose among the many exhibitors to find the few that are the most relevant.

For introverts, trade shows are a great way to gain exposure and make a few, specific contacts without having to engage in the activities that make them feel uncomfortable. Plus, there’s a nice bonus of refreshing your supply of pens.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit Meeting Wave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Contrary to the popular belief of both introverted and extroverted people, both personality types have characteristics that can help them be excellent networkers. Sometimes extroverts assume they are the best networkers because of their willingness to meet and interact with large groups of people. There is also the misconception that all introverts are shy or aren’t engaging personalities. Introverts have just as much personality as extroverts, they just express it differently.

Here are four reasons why introverted people can be excellent networkers.

1. Networking is all about developing mutually beneficial relationships.

The key to starting a relationship is to make the other person feel appreciated and to show them that you are interested in them. Extroverts can meet a lot of people in a short amount of time through high-energy social interaction, but networking always comes down to one person interacting with another. Introverts prefer to have fewer and deeper relationships, so they will use their one-on-one people skills to help them cultivate constructive relationships.

2. Listening skills are vital to learning about other people.

People want to feel that they are being heard. And, to help them solve problems, you’ve got to hear them talk about their needs. Because introverts are less assertive in speaking, they are less likely to control the conversation. But this means that the other person is much more likely to steer the discussion toward whatever is heaviest on their mind. This creates an opportunity for the savvy networker to help solve the problem through an introduction, giving them a referral, or knowing how to solve it themselves.

3. Networking is about connecting people who can help each other.

Introverts tend to enjoy an inner world of deep thinking and problem-solving. Inside this inner world can be a great deal of knowledge and experience that can be put to use to help other people within their network. While an introvert may know know “everyone” (as people assume extroverts do), but if they will spend time reviewing their resources and know-how, they will become a valued friend to those they help.

4. Maintaining connections is vital to building long-term relationships.

With fewer contacts, introverts can put more resources toward keeping in touch with the people in their networks. They have stronger ties to fewer people. Even though the theory of “weak ties” (we get a greater variety of information from people outside of our tight circle) suggests introverts may be at a disadvantage, they can actually turn this to their favor. They may have fewer relationships themselves, but the stronger ties they develop should give them greater access to the people their contacts know.

Conclusion

While introverts may have to work a little harder at some aspects of networking, their personality style doesn’t mean they are at a disadvantage. In fact, some skills that is vital to developing a strong network of mutually beneficial relationship depends on the strengths of introverts, including listening, staying connected and problem-solving. If you are an introvert, don’t let those extroverts convince you that they have superior skills. Stay focused on your strengths to become a successful networker.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit Meeting Wave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

The traditional view of networking, large groups of people randomly mixing at events, seems to be tailor-made for extroverted networkers. Indeed, they do tend to enjoy networking and gain a great deal from these events because they are able to approach, meet, and engage with a large number of people at these events. But they are still not above improving their networking skills in order to get better results.

Here are five ways that extroverts can improve their networking:

1. Slow Down

Extroverts tend to show more enthusiasm about people and activities that they enjoy. They enjoy the large-scale human interaction that takes place at networking events. But they can get carried away by their enthusiasm and rush through the time it takes to get to know someone. This might be okay if they are dealing with another extrovert, but if they are talking to an introvert, this can be very off-putting. Take time to really slow down, focus on the event and enjoy the moment.

2. Listen

The same enthusiasm and energy can also cause an extrovert to become very talkative. If their conversational partner is quieter or enjoying the monologue, this doesn’t have to be a big problem, but more often than not, they are missing out on important information and clues from the other person. Networking is about helping other people get what they want, but you can’t know what they want if they don’t get the opportunity to speak.

3. Don’t Sell

Extroverts make great sales people, especially if their product or service has engaged their passions. They can find everything the encounter to be related to their company or organization. This alertness for opportunity can be a great asset in finding prospects, but when uncontrolled, it can make them annoying in networking events. It’s vital to not sell people when you first meet them. Extroverts must work extra hard to avoid going into “sales pitch mode” if someone shows interest. It may be just politeness. They need to ask questions and listen before moving on to selling.

4. Meet Fewer People

Because extroverts are energized by interacting with people, they tend to want to meet and interact with as many new people as possible. While creating “weak ties” (i.e. more casual relationships) with a wide variety of people can be beneficial in gathering more diverse information, it’s also important to have deeper relationships you can count on for support. Extroverts can sometimes forget about their existing relationships in pursuit of new and exciting faces.

5. Follow Up

In our time-crunched society, follow up is a difficult task for anyone, extrovert or introvert. But for the externally stimulated extrovert, the tasks of adding names to a database or digging into records for a name to pass on aren’t the most fun part of their day. Extroverts have to set up an easy system, and remind themselves that the vast majority of results come from repeated interaction and not the first time they meet someone.

Conclusion
Extroverts definitely have some advantages when it comes to the “meet and greet” part of networking. Their outgoing personality and gregarious nature make it very natural for them to get acquainted with more people. But these same strengths can also be weaknesses. Extroverts need to work on improving their skills in these five areas to become better networkers.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Networking is an enjoyable activity. There is the opportunity to meet interesting new people in an enjoyable atmosphere, often accompanied by good food and a door prize or two. But for the busy sales representative, business owner, or independent agent fun is secondary to the need for solid results from networking. We need to GAIN something from the time spent networking.

What can we GAIN from networking? Information, resources, referrals, insight and job leads. One thing we all want are sales. But the harder we pursue sales, the more elusive they can be. And, the paradoxical thing about people who are really great at networking is that they’re not trying to make sales, but they make a lot of sales through their networking. They have to be sincerely interested in the relationship and not the sale … but if you do that, you’ll probably get the sale.
How do these great networkers do it? Think GAIN to remember the most important key points:

G - Give first of yourself, your time, information, experience – give something of value

A - Ask questions about the other person, their life, their experiences, their dreams

I - Introduce them to someone else who is interested in their service or who would otherwise be helpful or even another great networker like yourself

N - Nurture the relationship by continuing to give, ask questions, and introduce them to others

If you focus on this kind of GAIN, then you will benefit tremendously from your networking. Not only can you find it to be an enjoyable activity, but you’ll also make contacts, get referrals, and earn sales from friends and recommendations.

Looking for more networking tips, tricks, strategies & advice? Visit MeetingWave’s Networking Motivator Blog.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator ™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at http://www.thenetworkingmotivator.com/ for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (including the author’s bio and the links www.meetingwave.com).