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The 7 Habits of Highly Horrible Networkers
Networking is a term that didn't exist (academically) until almost 40 years ago. It's a word uttered in and around the business world every day, yet is unclear to most as to how it actually works. Still, it's a fundamental tool to the success of any business. By definition, the term networking is the development and maintenance of mutually valuable relationships. It's not schmoozing; it's not just handing out business cards, selling, marketing or small talk. Those activities are part of networking, but unfortunately, many people's misunderstanding of the term causes them network ineffectively. The following are The 7 Habits of Highly Horrible Networkers?, and they can stand in the in your way of developing mutually valuable relationships. So, next time you attend your Chamber or Association meeting, keep these ideas in mind so you can offer the most value to your fellow networkers. Habit #1: Attitude Attitude is fundamental to effective networking. In fact, it's the most important habit to understand. Habit #2: Dig Your Well WHEN You're Thirsty Enter the Highly Horrible Networkers, who only network because: a) They need new customers Take my friend Lawrence, for example. He's quite successful in the insurance business; however he recently approached me about using networking to obtain some hot leads. "My numbers are down. My boss is on my back. I gotta get out there and start networking?or else! What do you suggest?" "Networking takes time," I explained, "and you can't expect to come into loads of business or dozens of potential clients without developing the relationships first." As you already learned, networking is the development and maintenance of mutually valuable relationships?over time. If you try to dig your well WHEN you're thirsty, you may never find a drink. Habit #3: Dealin' the Deck "Here's my card, call me if you need a designer! See ya later." "But?I?never even got your name!" you muse. This is guaranteed to make people feel puny and insignificant. Notice these Highly Horrible Networkers don't spend time actually meeting and establishing rapport with new people; but rather concentrate on giving out as many cards as possible. It's quantity over quality, right? Wrong. Dealin' the Deck is one of the most common networking pet peeves. Whenever I give my program The Habits of Highly Horrible Networkers?, I walk out into the audience for a quick demonstration of this habit. I grab a stack of business cards and quickly jump from table to table tossing out dozens of them without as much looking at the audience members I'm handing them to. Unfortunately during one speech, it backfired. Literally. Last year, I was demonstrating Highly Horrible Habit #3 when speaking at a local business meeting. While hopping from table to table as dozens of cards flew through the air and into people's laps and salads, someone yelled out, "Oh my God!" I stopped dead in my tracks. I looked back at the head table and noticed that one of my cards landed in the centerpiece? ?which was a candle! MY BUSINESS CARD WAS ON FIRE!! I threw down the microphone, lunged at the table and snatched the burning business card from the candle! As I toppled over the chair in front of me I yelled something to the effect of "Oh my God!" shook the flames off my half burnt card and regained my balance to a roaring applause/laughter from the audience. "And?uh?this just goes to show you ladies and gentleman," I fumbled, "When you deal the deck of business cards without eye contact or consideration?uh?people may as well set them on fire ? because they're not going to read them anyway!" Whew! Nice save, huh? Yeah well, that client did NOT invite me back the following year. Habit #4: Unprofessional Information I have nothing against AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo. But if possible, always send and receive emails using the address of your organization's website, i.e., scott@hellomynameisscott.com. If you must use free servers like MSN, SBC and the like, choose a simple username that doesn't question your professionalism, i.e., jackgateman@yahoo.com. Habit #4: Sit with the Wrong Company But these were the nametags I saw: ADM Financial, ADM Financial, ADM Financial, ADM Financial, ADM Financial, ADM Financial, Scott. (Company name changed to protect the victims.) Highly Horrible networkers not only attend meetings with their friends and/or coworkers, but they talk and sit with them the entire time! These are people with whom they've worked 5 days a week, 8 hours a day for the past 3 years! This is not a good technique to maximize your company's visibility. This habit creates an elitist, unfriendly attitude. And think how uncomfortable this makes the one or two people sitting at the table who don't work for that company! It's unfair to them because they're unable to meet a diverse group of people with whom to develop mutually valuable relationships! Remember: If you're sitting with YOUR company ? you're sitting with the WRONG company. Habit #6: Small Talk is for Suckers Has this ever happened to you? For example, has someone ever introduced themselves, breezed right through the conversation and flat out asked you for a referral? Refer you? I don't even know you! Reciprocating self-disclosure is the most effective way to build rapport and ultimately develop trust. The people you want to do business with are those with whom you have built that rapport and trust. So, small talk is not for suckers. Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk put it best when she said: "Small talk is the biggest talk we do." Habit #7: Limitations That's it? A measly half hour for networking? Doesn't give you much time, does it? The truth about networking is that it can happen anytime, anywhere. There is a time and a place for networking ? it's called ANY time, and ANY place. © 2005 All Rights Reserved. Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.
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