You make a great connection at a conference or networking event, but how comfortable are you reaching out to them later? Do you struggle to come up with a good reason to call, believing (correctly) that dialing just to say "hi" isn't enough, at least at this early stage of the relationship?
A ... Views: 1476
Of all the things that hold people back from networking, one of the biggest is the belief that they don't have a networking personality. But if being comfortable connecting with others is the most recognizable trait of a successful networker, it's really only one part of the equation.
No matter ... Views: 1444
Following up is a critical part of the networking process, because as I often say in my workshops, someone you speak to for 5 minutes at a networking event will probably not feel comfortable enough with you right off the bat to refer you to their best client or buy from you.
You need time to ... Views: 1421
More than 27 million people attend conferences, trade shows, and conventions each year, and according to Meetings & Conventions magazine, the main reason they go is to network. It's no surprise then that in their brochures and on their websites, conference organizers take great pains to stress ... Views: 1323
When I started my business seven years ago, I knew I'd have to network. I was okay with that, even though I'm not a born networker and successfully avoided networking during my 12 years in corporate America. To be comfortable on my own in the long term, however, I was willing to bear a little ... Views: 1292
Even though I'm an independent consultant, I've been collaborating with others more often lately on different projects and ventures to accelerate my business. But it wasn't until recently, when one of my project partners and I had lunch with a big name prospect, that I discovered the power of ... Views: 1291
When July rolls around New York, my husband and I can't wait to escape the stifling heat and humidity that often blankets the city. Not just mitigate it by going to a nearby beach, but really leave it behind us. This year, we opted for 10 days in the Swiss Alps.
While I had visions of ... Views: 1280
A question that comes up often in my networking seminars is "What's more important: quantity or quality?" You'll always need a certain critical mass to make networking work. With just one person in your network, you'll quickly run out of ways to help each other, defeating the primary objective ... Views: 1242