It’s easy to compartmentalize networking to outside of the workplace. We often reserve networking for those weekly or monthly networking events, after work happy hours, or various organizations we’ve joined. Yet, we often underestimate the power of networking at work. I was recently reminded of this when I was speaking with an associate about the local real estate market. I was blown-away by the number of contacts she had acquired in virtually any industry. It inspired me to pick her brain. I realized that networking can and should take place anytime and anywhere, even at work … especially at work. Finding out how she networked with others could not only help me advance my career by becoming the resource for others to go to, but it would help me in other aspects of my life.

I needed to know how she networked because it was definitely working:

Which networking events did she go to?

What people was she meeting?

What organizations was she a part of?

How did she follow up with everyone?

I realized by having an in depth face to face with her, I wasn’t just opening the door to finding out how she networked, but I was opening the door to everyone she knew. She has built an extensive network of like-minded business people by joining Master Networks. She has tapped into a powerful network and she was making it even more powerful by her word-of-mouth referrals. Networking should be a part of your everyday life, so look around for those influencers they just might be sitting near you or a phone call away!

We were meant to thrive; yet we can be one of our own worst enemies when it comes to our success.

We limit our networking circles by convincing ourselves that we shouldn’t mix our personal and professional lives. We are prideful and tell ourselves that we don’t need any help from our friends and family because we can do it on our own. We tell ourselves that by informing them of what we are up to, we are ultimately burdening them. There are numerous excuses we use as to why we won’t/don’t tap into some of our most instrumental assets in networking – our friends and family. We ultimately fall victim to one of the greatest pitfalls of networking.

Consider the alternative. Our friends and family have a vested interest in our lives, therefore, it makes complete sense that they would be more likely to want to see us succeed that a business powerhouse. Our friends and family have a plethora of connections just waiting for us to uncover. Think about your parents, your aunts and uncles, or your friends. They have been networking for countless years and have built an impressive Rolodex. By reaching out to our friends and family, we are able to acquire new contacts as well as broaden and build our current networking circles. That friend-of-a-friend or friend-of-a-family member might just turn into a golden opportunity. Can you really afford to let that golden opportunity pass you up? I didn’t think so, reach out to your friends and family. Odds are in your favor.

Let me know your experience with networking TinaCampbell@MasterNetworks.net

Relationship Development System

Several years ago during a severe storm, a tree feel on our house. Luckily no one was hurt, but the tree was very close to my youngest daughter's bedroom, and I knew I needed to have the tree removed as soon as possible. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember the name of "our tree guy", probably because it was a very stressful situation. Yet, I knew that he was my guy; I trusted him. I knew he was going to show up and get the job done. I didn’t want to take my chances with anyone else. I didn’t want an estimate. I didn’t want to wait weeks to have the tree removed. I wanted the issue to be resolved effortlessly. I finally tracked him down, and just as I thought, he fixed our situation immediately.

As I reflect back, I realized he needed to be contacting his clients monthly. He needed to send us friendly reminders letting us know that he was still there if we needed any help with anything. If I hadn’t been able to locate him, I would have been forced to use a random company that I had found on the Internet, and I knew that wasn’t what I wanted or needed. I have seen many businesses in this same exact spot. They are successful enough, but they don’t have time to communicate with their current and past clients. They just aren’t as successful as they could be. And in the end, they end up loosing potential business because past clients have lost touch with them.

The most important thing you can do for your business is to keep fueling your referral engine by creating a Relationship Development System (RDS). Your database of past, present, and potential clients should be current, and your systematic messages need to hold value. In Chas Wilson’s book, Five Plus One: The Entrepreneurs Formula for Success, he states that you need to master targeting by identify, locating, and contacting a steady stream of people who want what you have to offer. Technically you don’t exist and are out of business if you don’t have any customers, so it all comes down to finding, attracting and retaining customers.

Not only would I have benefited from my tree guy utilizing an RDS, his business would have also benefitted.