What's the point of Networking?

Networking is one of the most powerful and beneficial forms of growing your business and your circle of associates. However, it is the easiest and most frequent tool overlooked and underused for growth. Networking has been going on for centuries, we just have additional ways of doing it now. First, to appreciate networking you must understand networking.

Networking is a gathering and collaboration of like-minded individuals going after the same end product. It is designed to facilitate the exchange of and the establishment of mutually beneficial information and relationships. Networking and Relationships go hand in hand. You can't create and achieve one without the other.

Networking is not only for business related purposes. You can network on a non-business level as well. For example, a group of mothers or parents develop a networking group to establish relationships in order to create an internal babysitting or driving pool service. A group of women develop a network system to encourage one another. A group of college students develop a network system of experts in a subject and offer tutoring services. You see, networking is a goal oriented system.

Two of the highly ineffective networking behaviors and tactics that I have personally observed are poor communication and poor reciprocation.
In order for networking to be effective and beneficial you have to be willing to do four main things, regardless of business or non-business related purposes.

One: Be able to clearly inform others about your business or your intended goals.
- If you have a difficult time clearly expressing what it is that your business
does or what your intended goal is, you are not going to be able to develop a
strong networking system. You will be perceived as confused and
unorganized. The worst thing for you to create is an external perception that
you are not capable of making a decision.

Two: Have open ears and be willing to listen to what others are saying.
- When you speak you want and expect others to listen to you, right? Therefore,
returning the respect of doing the same should be standard etiquette that
comes as second nature for any person. When you choose not to listen to the
information being placed before you, it's considered taking the risk of
missing out on a valuable connection. Open your ears and listen to what
people are saying.

Three: Be willing to patron another business or participate in an event.
- Opening yourself to the possibility of utilizing a fellow entrepreneurs
service or participating in another persons event demonstrates support,
builds relationships and establishes camaraderie. This is three of the four
core elements to effective networking.

Four: Have a system in which you refer business to business and clients to business.
- This is one of the four external components to achieving successful growth.
Be readily available to tell someone else about a service, an event and a
business owner. You are not effectively networking if you are not referring!
Even when you are unable to use a service or participate in a persons event,
tell someone else. The recipient of your referral will remember it and will
usually reciprocate. I must enforce that unless you are in a mutual based
agreement where monetary exchange is expected, refer without personal agenda
or reciprocation expectation.

Now that you have been equipped with the basics of effective networking you know why it's important to network. The point is until you reach out, others won't reach back! I hope you can compartmentalize what this truly means. We all need a helping hand in this world, even those at the top of the mountain. The top CEO of a monster company reached out first and then someone reached back to pull them up. The student that is trying to successfully pass a difficult class has to reach out so that someone can reach back and pull them up to the next level. Now, do you see what I mean by "Until you reach out, others won't reach back"?

This is your Chief Visionary, Natasha Davis-Bowen of Visionary People
Get Encouraged, Get Enlightened, Get Empowered!

Visionary People is an All-In-One Growth and Resource company that assists you on your journey to successfully casting vision. We focus on Productivity, Progress and Success. Reach out and I'll Reach Back!

Take a tour of our website: www.visionarypeoplearise.com

Training Seminars
Mentorship Programs
Empowerment Conferences
Guest Speaker
Motivational Products & Literature

Send your request to join our monthly newsletter to vpnews@visionarypeoplearise.com

Email Me: natasha@visionarypeoplearise.com

Don't forget to tune into the weekly Talk Show Manifested Vision Thursday nights 8pm est on BTR. www.blogtalkradio.com/visionary-people