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One of the neat aspects about networking is that you can have very different outcomes from other people. What outcomes have you experienced?
What other outcomes not on this list have you experienced?
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According to the recent Newsday article, Small Business: Making use of social networking sites, online social networking is not just for singles and students. This is nothing new because we know that the business community uses sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. What is interesting about this article is that it summarizes some of the reasons why businesses use these sites. Here are a few of the points mentioned:
What other reasons do businesses use online networking sites?
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You are among the first to know that the Millennial Edition of Personal Branding Magazine will be coming out on August 1. I am a contributing writer for this magazine and recommend that you pick up your copy.
Here is a description of this edition from the publisher, Dan Schawbel:
"This issue explores a new generation of hip and cool youngsters, known simply as Gen-Y, but also referred to as the millennials. The long anticipated and earned retirement of baby boomers has given rise to the millennials, who are over 70 million strong. The legacy workplace will cease to exist as this generation enters and recruiters must be prepared to change their ways or self-destruct. Some millennials have even started changing our world as we speak. These new-age entrepreneurs are tech-savvy and ready to make a difference. Are you prepared?"
The following is a sample of who has contributed to this magazine who are experts, authors, coaches, and bloggers:
To get a taste of this edition, check out a sample issue. If you like what you read, then I encourage you to subscribe to the magazine.
Check out Dan Schawbel's YouTube introduction to the magazine:
Every generation has its way of seeing the world and interacting with people. In order to build relationships of trust and respect, it is important to know some of the nuisances with each generation.
You can’t ignore the millennials who were born between 1980 and 2000. They are taking on the world by storm because they are the first generation of kids who grew up surrounded by digital media.
Their lives have been shaped by trends such as multiculturalism, terrorism, globalism, heroism, and structure. They can be categorized as confident, hopeful, goal and achievement oriented, and civic-minded.
The millennials will play an important part in the world going forward so don’t discount them. In order to continuously succeed, you need to learn how to interact with them.
The millennials are a generation that wants respect. They are serious about what they do so they expect you to view them this way. This generation is already having a profound impact on the world and will only get stronger in the future. They are our future leaders and are adopting technology at record paces.
With that said, just treat them as you would treat anyone else. However, realize that they may be moving at a faster pace than you and are not afraid to voice their opinions. At the same time, they do respect leaders and look for your guidance and mentorship as long as you act with honesty and integrity.
Further, they like to be challenged so if you have an issue that you would like resolved, give them an opportunity to help you. After all, relationship building is about helping others so let them know that you need assistance.
Millennials work hard and play hard so keep this in mind as you get them involved with some of your activities both for fun and business. Find ways to plug them in to your life so you can get to know them better.
When you meet these people, you will realize that they lead busy lives. So, their attention span may be short. Keep them engaged by being focused in your conversations. Also, let them talk about their interests and experiences because they have done a lot in their short lives.
So, the next time you meet one of these young people, treat them with a world of respect because chances are they will teach you something. In fact, you may end up working for one of these folks in the future. They are a fast moving generation that will change the world.
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With summer here, some people tone down their networking activities. In fact, relationship building should always take place, no matter the season. During the summer, you have the opportunity to interact with people in different environments and in more casual ways.
Below are ten tips to keep you going during the summer.
1. Attend social events hosted by networking groups, friends, and employers
2. Host your own sports outing to a baseball game or golf
3. Host your own happy hours for your network
4. Take advantage of summer hours to re-connect with old contacts and meet with new people
5. Don’t dress too casual when not appropriate
6. Work on your personal brand by writing articles, creating a blog, or preparing speeches
7. Seek out new opportunities to meet people
8. Re-evaluate your volunteer efforts with organizations
9. Seek out speaking opportunities with networking organizations
10. Focus on taking 1-2 new people to lunch each week
What other tips can you share?
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Peter Fiske's recent article, E-Persona Non Grata: Strategizing Your Online Persona, does a great job of explaining the good and bad uses of online networking sites such as LinkedIn. Peter explains that he was a skeptic at first with using these sites until a well-respected executive who he knew invited him to join his network. This created an interest for him and eventually he became a user.
Peter shares the following good and bad uses of online networking sites.
Good Uses
1. Job searches
2. Professional networking
3. Social networking
Bad Use
1. Collecting links and friends for the sake of high numbers
I can't tell you how many people I come across that just want high numbers in their LinkedIn profiles. Remember, it is about quality, not quantity. In fact, you should know all of your direct connections. Don't accept invitations from people whom you don't know.
As Peter mentions in the article, don't let technology get in the way of face-to-face interaction. Spend time inviting people to lunch or coffee.
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It is important in the business world to have people respect you and want to be a part of your network. Once this happens to you, you will have taken your personal brand to the next level. As a result, opportunities will come what your way that you are not expecting. So, how can you make this happen? Below are three techniques that will move you in that direction.
Become a Subject Matter Expert
Take the time to brand yourself around a topic of interest. Become an expert on this subject and make it very transparent to those around you that this is your expertise. Your goal should be that you become the go to person for this subject for those in your network.
So, how do you brand yourself? Chances are that you already have a subject matter expertise but keep it inside or don’t leverage it as much as you should. Figure out what you have a passion for in the business world and then spend time reading and learning as much as you can about this topic.
Once you feel that you have enough conversational knowledge about this topic, you need to start incorporating it into everything you do. Here are some examples of activities that you could do:
• Speak at an event
• Write industry articles
• Publish a blog
• Create a newsletter
• Develop a Website
• Add tagline in email signature
• Add language on your business card
You need to make yourself synonymous with your expert topic. Over time, people will start gravitating towards you and will want to be in your inner circle.
Be Respectful, Offer to Help, and Follow Through
People want to be treated with the utmost respect. As your mother has probably told you, “treat people how you want to be treated.” No matter what environment, this holds true for all facets of life. If you don’t treat people respectfully, they will remember this and won’t want to associate themselves with you.
Once you have any negative perceptions out there about you, your image will be tarnished and people won’t want to be around you. So, make sure that you constantly portray a good demeanor when interacting with people. Make others feel welcome by smiling and engaging in a good dialogue. Let people tell you about themselves without you interrupting. Give them the attention and focus that they deserve.
Also, a great way to build long-term relationships is to offer to help whenever you can. Of course, you need to follow-through, otherwise, your kind gestures will not mean anything. Over time, you want people to know you for someone who is helpful and keeps his/her word. Once this happens, people will start coming to you for your guidance and help. You should be flattered when this happens. Try to help people whenever you can. Don’t turn them away.
Be Yourself
When interacting with people, you need to be yourself. Otherwise, people will see right through you. Don’t fool people by acting like someone you are not. You want people to like you for you. If you put on a false front, then you will be found out sooner or later.
Don’t act like a different person in social and business settings. You don’t want others to be surprised if you act a certain way in another environment. As long as you are a decent human being, you won’t have problems connecting with people.
Let your personality lead much of how people will perceive you. It is impossible to connect with everyone so some people will naturally gravitate towards you.
It is very important that you always be honest with yourself and others around you. As people get to know you, you will start to build relationships because they like you.
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For those of you that golf, you probably already understand how wonderful this sport is for building relationships. How often do you get to spend 4 to 5 hours with someone and really get to know them on a personal level. Golf can definitely reveal a lot about someone's personality that you may not see in a business setting. Does this person get extremely upset? Does this person throw clubs? Does this person have a hard time dealing with frustration? Whatever the question, you will get to know people in a different way.
In fact, a lot of business gets done as a result of a golf game. Many corporations have an entertainment allowance for their sales people so they can take them out golfing. Golf is the ultimate business sport.
Harvey Mackay's recent column, When it comes to business, get in the game of golf, discusses this phenomenon in greater detail. According to Mackay, "an estimated $28 billion in annual sales (in the U.S.) is attributed to contracts and relationships initiated on the golf course. That's why more than 20 million rounds of business golf will be played this year."
That is amazing! If you are not a golfer, then I encourage you to think about picking up the game. Not only is it great for building relationships, but also it can be fun too. I have been playing golf my entire life. Of course, it can be very frustrating when you are not playing well.
Has golf been a good business tool for you?
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According to the 2008 Networks for Counsel Survey, almost 50 percent of attorneys are
members of online social networks and over 40 percent of attorneys
believe professional networking has the potential to change the
business and practice of law over the next five years. However, less
than ten percent say they can rely on their current network to help
them work more efficiently and cost effectively.
For the complete survey results, go to Survey Reveals Growth in Online Professional Networking Among Legal Professionals, Appetite for Lawyer-Specific Networking Solutions.
This survey further validates that niche or focused online networking can draw a crowd. What do you think?
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It is interesting to think about the interaction you have had after you meet someone for the first time. Every person has a different personality, technique, and motive for talking with you. Well, I am here to tell you that if you want to continue building a relationship after the first encounter, then you better treat the person with respect and play for the long term outcome. Below are several ‘no-no’s when meeting people the first time. After all, your first impression can make or break a new relationship.
• Don’t try to sell your firm’s services; Rather, sell yourself and what you have to offer to the other person;.
• Don’t ask for help. Rather, ask other people how you can help them first.
• Don’t wander your eyes when talking with people; Rather, stay focused on the conversation at hand, which shows that you care about the dialogue.
• Don’t interrupt people when speaking; Rather, be a good listener and let people talk about themselves.
• Don’t hand out your business card right away; Rather, wait until you are asked for your business card.
• Don’t wear your nametag in the wrong position; Rather, wear it high and on the right side of your body.
• Don’t shake hands with a dead fish; Rather, focus on giving a firm handshake.
• Don’t come to an event with a bad appearance; Rather, check for stains, rips, tears, polished shoes, and groomed face and hair.
• Don’t be rude when talking with people; Rather, treat people with the respect that they deserve.
• Don’t come without business cards; Rather, carry them at all times and put them in all jackets, bags, and portfolios so you are never without them.
Have you experienced any of these from others? Are you guilty of any of these?
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