Jul 8, 2006
Author: Helen Blocker-Adams
Networking is an art, but it does take skill. No, I’m not talking about networking in the technology arena with wireless and digital applications, etc. The ability to connect to people, develop sincere relationships, serving others, willing to commit for the long haul, communicating are what networking is all about. There are plenty of books on the subject of networking but I’d like to share over the next few issues my thoughts on networking, how important it is to your business and personal success, how you can learn to network and how to benefit from this powerful way of life.
Networking requires a caring spirit, a giving nature, a willingness to share, being relentless, never giving up and being persistent. People have often asked me how I get to know so many people. My response is that I’ve been meeting people and developing relationships for years. I make it a point to meet people from different walks of life, different industries and different geographic parts of the world. There are many times that I’ve deliberately met people. When I read or hear about a new department head, CEO, President, political leader, I make it a point to attend a reception in their honor, find their contact information and send them an e-mail or even call and schedule an appointment.
Now don’t attempt this if you don’t feel you have something to offer. What I have to offer is networks of people that this person might be interested in meeting, information that may be useful as it relates to their business or information on an event their company or organization might be interested in attending. Almost a year ago, I read that longtime leader Tommy Stone of Georgia Power was retiring and was being replaced by Walter Dukes. I had known Mr. Stone for quite some time and was and still is a mover and shaker in this area. I wanted to contact Mr. Dukes. I located Mr. Stone’s phone number, which I figured would also ring to Mr. Dukes and I called him. I left him a voice message that simply said ‘welcome to Augusta, I wish you much success and that when it was convenient I’d like to meet with him to discuss a few business ideas.’ In less than three days I received a message from him. He asked me out to lunch (and paid for it too by the way). Since then we’ve partnered on several mutually beneficial projects that benefit small business here in Augusta.
I meet people in different places. Those meetings may occur at organizations I’ve served on, business meetings, conferences, church, business office, just to name a few. Networking has to become a part of you. It’s not something you put on, like hat, and say “I’m networking.” It’s a way of life. If you maintain your lifestyle in a ‘giving’ way and always thinking of others, you’ll find networking very easy.
But let’s look at another angle. You might have a Rolodex and or Palm Pilot filled with names and contact information. Maybe you actually know them personally, or you’ve had a brief encounter or would like to get to know them, it important to realize that it’s not just important that you have a lot of people in your network, but do they know YOU? And what is it that they know about you. I heard someone once say, “it’s not so important who you know, but knows you.” I thought that was pretty profound. When you’re in business circles, how often does one tell you that ‘someone else told them about you’ or you meet someone and they say ‘a colleague of mine told me about you.’? How often does your name precede you?
