Were You Able to Attend Our Networking Event?

Thanks to everyone who attended the August 20 Networking Event. People learned and fine-tuned networking skills AND met some new people to build their networks.

It was a fun and productive event, and we had coverage from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and WHAM TV 13. Several of us were interviewed by Rachel Barnhart. http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Job-Hunters-Turn-to-Social-Networking/w0f14LThCk6ixdxsUyKQaQ.cspx

We talked about having more events that would offer opportunities to meet more people. As you may know, in addition to serving the training needs of corporate clients, Training Insights, Inc. hosts these low cost events as a community service for individuals and job hunters. We will soon have a survey to get your ideas and interest levels on having us sponsor more events.

Check back soon and let us know how we can help you Make Your Contacts Count!

10 Quick and Easy Tips for Improving Your Networking Skills

1. Recognize that possibilities are endless.
Networking opportunities are everywhere and anytime (in addition to networking events and business meetings, the next person you meet at the grocery store could lead you to a new opportunity. Here are tips for improving your networking skills and confidence.

2. Have a Positive attitude. Smile.
If you’re feeling uneasy, uninterested – that unrest will ‘ooze out of your very pores’

3. Talk to people.
Rather than look down in the elevator, make eye contact and simply say hello! It’s ok to talk to people you haven’t met yet at work, concerts, shopping malls, festivals, and sporting events.

4. Be clear and succinct.
This is especially true when you’re asked “What do you do?” Keep it simple. This invites conversation from the person you’re talking to!
Memorize your BEST / TEST (What you do best, and a testimonial to that.)
Example:
BEST: I read between the lines on soup cans.
TEST: Last week I testified at a congressional hearing about the huge amounts of sodium in our food.

5. Give first, give generously.
Keep your expertise, enthusiasms, trends and resources at top of mind and be ready to share at the appropriate time.

6. Identify what you want to get.
85% of people attending networking events have no idea what they’d like to get out of the experience.

7. Listen sincerely.
Before you take your turn to talk about yourself, listen sincerely to find out all you can about that person. This is the foundation for meaningful and purposeful follow up.

8. Follow up.
This is where most people fail in networking. They do everything right, but don’t keep their word on following through with information promised!

9. Invite someone along.
If you’re planning to attend an association meeting, invite one of your contacts to meet you there so you can catch up. This is another easy way to follow up and to build relationships with people who have similar interests.

10. Keep learning.
Practice makes perfect. The more you talk to people, the more comfortable you get. Read books, go to events, take classes to continually improve your networking skills. You can always pick up new ideas and meet new people.

Now, get out there, talk to some new people, Make Your Contacts Count and have a fun weekend!

Sue Schnorr is President of Training Insights, Inc. and Associate for Contacts Count where she coaches people one-one-one and teaches strategic networking workshops, Webinars and keynotes.

Will we see you at the End of Summer Networking Bash?
Go to: www.training-inisights.com/events.htm for more information. To register now and hold your spot, go to: http://tinyurl.com/NetworkingBashAugust20

Don't Kid Yourself

I was at a picnic this weekend and someone asked, what do you do?

"I teach strategic networking skills classes that improve net worth."

Suddenly, there was a strange QUIET at the table..... I felt like I said something wrong. So, instead of crawling under the table, I repeated it.

"Yes, I teach networking skills - whether you're looking for a job or looking to do a better job AT your current job."

Still silence.

"Oh," one person finally said flatly. "I hate networking."

"Really, I asked? You should take our Contacts Count course, it might change your perspective.

"No," she continued. "No, networking is not for me. I hate going to networking events. Since I'm on the client end, people who meet me always want something from me. I have enough contacts in my network with my vendors......"

She continued to explain, but her words were swallowed up by another conversation that started at the table, and then we all got interrupted by the fireworks and never got back to the topic at hand.

I thought about it later, and remembered many a colleague who was crushed when laid off from their 'client jobs' and shocked at how all of the people who cared so much about them, and showered them with gifts, were no longer there for them. Hmmmmm.

"Don't kid yourself," I thought to myself. Don't pretend that your network is big enough, good enough or as good as it's ever going to get. As we grow in business and as the marketplace changes, our networks have to grow and change as well.

If you don't want to be stagnant, you better continually be creating, cultivating and capitalizing on your networking. You better nurture your business relationships and stay in good standing with different types of people in different places.

Think about it. How diverse is your network? Are there young people in your network? Old? Are there Clients? Vendors? Students? Mentors? Interns? Experienced people? Newbies? Do you have people in your field, from associations, who you can turn to, to benchmark, get the latest in trends and best practices? Do you have a strategy? Do you get bottom-line results from your networking?

Or, are you just going to networking events, because you think you should? And, you figure, you'll just hang out and have a drink, visit with your friends and current vendors and dismiss the people who you don'think you will 'need'.

Don't kid yourself. There are people who may not seem like 'likely good networkers' who have brothers, or neighbors or fathers who could hire or fire you!

Don't kid yourself. If you get your pink slip tomorrow, do you REALLY think your current vendors would still be sucking up and coming to your rescue to help you land a new job?

Don't kid yourself. Don't keep yourself in a networking 'silo.' We can learn from other industries and other people. How do you think McDonalds came up with the drive-through idea.... by learning about banking and the drive-through window!

Don't kid yourself. Even if you don't like networking events, you can still connect with others that you could learn from. Maybe lunches and one-one-one coffee dates make more sense for you. Maybe you're shy but do better at standing out and making a reputation for yourself by answering questions on Linked In.

Don't kid yourself. With the highest unemployment rates we've seen in a long time, no one is safe. No one knows what the future will bring. With social media on the rise, now is the time to use face-to-face networking, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to your advantage. You don't have to spend time reinventing the wheel when someone 1/2 way across the world is in your Linked In Group, willingly shares articles and tips with you. Information and ideas are so easily and quickly accessed, that no one should be the 'lone ranger' and no one should hate 'networking!'

Breaking Up is Hard to Do!

Last week, when I taught a class in Rochester NY, Alaina asked, “How do you END a conversation?”

Many people have difficulty with this. Whether you want to cling to a person for the safety of having someone at your side at a crowded event, or if you’re the type that has ‘just one more story’ you feel you must share … ending the conversation can be difficult.

Here are some tips that we, at Contacts Count, the networking skills specialists, recommend:
- End with the future in mind. Recap what you said you would GIVE, make sure you have the person’s contact information and follow up within 2 days.
- Ask your conversational partner to introduce you to someone else. “Do you know anyone at the meeting from the Programming Committee?”
- Let the person know you enjoyed talking to him and thank him for his time
- Be confident.
- Use Contact Count’s method: LEAVE

Let go after 5 – 10 minutes.
Explain what’s on your Agenda.
Appreciate your partner.
Verify the next step.
Exit with a smile and a handshake.

Remember, change is under-rated. Whether you’re leaving a long-term relationship or a 5 minute conversation, it’s still a change and it can be awkward or difficult. When it’s time to move on, simply thank him for his time, shake hands and go forward with confidence to find your next conversational partner.

Contributed by Sue Schnorr, President of Training Insights, Inc. and Exclusive Associate with Contacts Count in NY.

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH ...

The tough get networking!

How about you? Do you get it? Do you make networking a way of life, or is it a 'to do' on your chore list?

The old school of networking was: "YIKES, I need a job; I better get networking."
The new school of networking is all about continual teaching and giving.

Teaching people what you're good at and what would help you in your business life and learning what would help them, and giving them ideas, resources or leads to help them achieve their objectives.

It's been said over and over that the opposite of networking is NOT working.

When you continually think of your network as a means of support, you are more like to work it, or stay in touch with people. How do you do a better job at staying in touch with people? ASK more questions.

When you listen and listen generously.... you will learn how to follow up with them. You will know what their passions are, their challenges and what they do well and what they are interested in. When you give first, and give generously, the Law of Reciprocity comes into effect and you will soon be given an idea or resource as well. Try it! (That 'give and take' is the premise of networking.)

If you don't 'work it' or remain engaged with people in your network, you aren't working to your capacity. You don't have to be a Lone Ranger. Learn to rely on others for best practices, shortcuts, ideas, resources. Don't reinvent the wheel.

For more information on giving and getting, and how to have more purposeful conversations, read Chapter 10 in Make Your Contacts Count, by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon.