Networking

Networking...an art or a science?

Networking is the development and utilization of personal and business contacts to achieve one's desired goals.

Networking is critical to success in every industry. Clichй but true that it's not always what you know but who you know. Or whose name you can drop to get to know who you want to know!

Networking can be strategic or blissfully unintentional. Some people devise complicated scenarios and do extensive reconnaissance homework to find out how to meet the movers and shakers within their business community. Others naturally strike up conversation with people everyday never realizing the potential rewards in random acts of kindness.

There are many business and reference books on the market designed to help people improve their networking skills. I believe this can be done, to some degree, but I also think that the ancillary networking skills are somewhat intrinsic. In order to be successful at "networking" one must be consistently opportunistic, outgoing, dynamic and proactive. These traits may be learned or innate.

Strategic networking involves seizing every opportunity to be active in the business community, constantly participating in local events, volunteering for committees and working on all types of socio-economic meetings and group activities. Establishing a presence in the community is first and foremost on the agenda for those who want to "see and be seen". In most cities and towns there exist many types of potential opportunities to do this be they formal or informal. There are business networking associations (like BNI) as well as informal "leads groups" affiliated with almost every community's Chamber of Commerce or Convention and Visitors Bureau. These organizations often afford opportunities for businesspeople to get together strictly for the purpose of networking typically via a social mixer or other after hours business event, held monthly or quarterly. Breakfast seminars are offered through these organizations for the primary purpose of business development and/or personal career enhancement and for the secondary or peripheral purpose of networking.

Benefits of networking include business lead referrals for new customers, lead referrals for obtaining qualified suppliers or desired vendors, employment opportunities