In order to build a quality network, you need to know the people in your network well enough so you can refer them to other people and reach out to them when you have needs. Below are 5 techniques that will help you to get to know people better.
1. Ask open ended questions – When talking with people, don’t just ask “yes/no” questions. Ask good questions that will reveal some good details. Make sure to take good notes about what is said.
2. Invite people to lunch – Take time every week to invite people to lunch. Face time is important for the relationship building process.
3. Ask for volunteers – If you are involved in a non-profit (or hosting your own event), then ask some of your contacts to help you out. Volunteering for a good cause is a great way to get to know people outside of a business environment.
4. Monitor news – Use something like Google Alerts to keep track of any news about people. Also, monitor LinkedIn /Facebook updates. Once you hear about some of these changes, it is a good idea to reach out to these people and acknowledge what has happened.
5. Read what is published – Take the time to read what people publish whether it is a blog, article, or book. Many writings reveal information about the author’s personality and life.
What other techniques do you use?
Keep in mind that the above techniques will provide you with more details about people, which is important to have when building relationships. The more you know about someone the more you have to talk about and connect.
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