Networking Tip #1 – Be In The Room

Be In The Room

Sounds so obvious, yet not everyone gets it! 

Networking – at it's core – is about relationships. Meet, Like, Know, Trust. It's a journey, as it takes time.

It's quite unusual to walk into a networking event for the first time and walk out with new business from it. It does happen, and it's marvelous to see when it does, but more often it takes time for a trust relationship to form.

So it makes sense then, that for that relationship to form you need to actually be in the room. Consistently. Turning up once a year is unlikely to do much for you or your business. It's likely why some networking groups expect you to be there every time. I don't buy into that philosophy, but I recognise the importance of turning up consistently. Getting known, so people start to like and trust you enough to buy from you and recommend you to others. That's when the magic happens.

Be in the room, whenever you can. It's not always possible to be there every time. Shit happens, and life goes on, but make the effort to be there as much as you can. That consistency WILL pay off. Miss a string of events before that meet-like-know-trust relationship is cemented and it's like landing on a snake in Snakes and Ladders. You have to start again.

It's not just about being in the room physically though. Really be there. Leave your baggage at the door. Put you phone on silent, your laptop away, and show a real genuine interest in the others in the room.

We're curious creatures but, more importantly, we're judgmental.  Deny it all you like, but let's be honest here… if someone is tapping away on their phone or laptop while you present your business, will you rush to speak with them? There may be a good reason for it, but we rarely stop to find out. We make a snap judgement and – rightly or wrongly – it sticks. What's more, some people can't help themselves and next thing you know they're telling everyone at the next event they go to how you spent all the time on your phone and didn't listen to a word they said. Don't be that person either please, but do be in the room, listening intently, building relationships so you can build bridges and business.