Part of the criteria for successful networking is for you to have fun doing it. Becoming an excellent networker gives your immediate business as well as your career a significant boost. When you get really good at networking and master the specific skill sets featured in this chapter, your business will take off and you’ll enjoy a marked increase in referrals and recognition.
You will also see your visibility explode because you will be among the movers and shakers of our industry. Networking is great because you can do it anywhere. The secret is to combine it with some of your interests, so you are doing two or three different things simultaneously—having fun, building business, supporting a charity and so on. You get the idea.
Put Together Your Networking Plan
Now, take a look at any groups or organizations you are interested in.
You don’t do yourself any favors picking entities you have no interest in. Follow that course and, over time, you will get bored and lose your enthusiasm. My clients’ interest in this run the gamut from A to Z, including political parties, business groups and charitable groups. The great thing about the latter is that it gives you an opportunity to support the charitable group, while building your practice.
Other arenas for networking explored by advisors include religious organizations, civic organizations like the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and specific business groups such as their local Chambers of Commerce. Networking opportunities abound once you start looking.
NOTE: One client of mine is a pilot and his world revolves around flying. He also raises hunting dogs. As president of his local airplane club and also president of a local conservatory group that conserves wetlands and hunting areas in the state, he is able to incorporate his unique combination of interests when networking.
So forget business for a second. If you were not doing this for business and simply wanted to get out there and meet people and find something you really enjoyed, what would it be?
Stop for a moment and go over your list, focusing on those group associations you wrote down initially and circle a couple you are genuinely passionate about. If you didn’t write anything down that you like or enjoy, then you need to go back and do exercise number one. What are some of your interests and hobbies? You also might ask your clients what groups and associations they belong to. Many times approaching your clients like this gains you entrée to some very exclusive places. There is nothing more powerful than attending a function and having three or more of your clients there. Weaving your presence around events like that can be very powerful.
(more in our next issue….)
