Hello and welcome

Here’s the G’s and H’s – a few more pictures – feel free to share

And for those people here for the first time, a brief introduction……

This A-Z has been compiled from sources gathered over the last 25 years – many before Google – it is by no means exhaustive or I trust exhausting; merely something that will help you get more from your networking.

Originally written or should I say compiled as a resource for members of Business Network SW and then developed into a series of seminars.  Now it’s the basis for a number of blog posts which I trust that you will find informative, useful and – dare I say, even worth sharing and ultimately even engage with.

I will serialise the whole A-Z in posts over the coming weeks and months and it will develop as more knowledge and wisdom becomes available – which it undoubtedly will!

Previously

A – B

C – D

E – F

G

Be genuine – it is worth a quick look to see what genuine means….thank you Google for the succinct search

Genuine is an adjective meaning truly what something is said to be; authentic. for example “genuine 24-carat gold”
synonyms: authentic, real, actual, original, pukka, bona-fide, true, veritable, unfeigned, unadulterated.

When referring to a person, emotion, or action – sincere.
“a genuine attempt to put things right”
synonyms: sincere, honest, truthful, not hypocritical, meaning what one says, straightforward, direct, frank, candid, open; artless, natural, unaffected, guileless, ingenuous; informal straight, upfront, on the level; informal on the up and up.  for example “she’s a very genuine person”

All of which you should be when you are out networking, in fact should be all the time, it is after all easier to be who you are rather that inventing another persona – in a nutshell no Barry BS!  Say what you mean, and mean what you say.  Smile when the smile is natural, don’t paste on a false smile to fit a situation.

Everyone is better than you at something. Let them be better than you.  Don’t try to win the “getting to know someone” competition. Try to lose. Be complimentary. Be impressed. Admit a failing or a weakness.  Even ask for help!

If someone you meet says, “We just purchased a larger facility,” say, “That’s great!  We’ve wanted to move for a couple years but haven’t been able to put together the financing. How did you do it?”

Don’t be afraid to show a little vulnerability. People may be (momentarily) impressed by the artificial, but people sincerely like the genuine.  Be the real you. People will like the real you.

Gossip – Catching up on local news is imperative to keep abreast of the game. But try to avoid idle chit chat and if you do hear something juicy keep it to yourself! Be careful with this – what may seem positive now could be negative later – put yourself in the shoes of the person/business that is the subject of the gossip – how would you feel if that was you?

These few images sum gossip up very well……

Gracious – Showing kindness and courtesy are memorable qualities.  There are always plenty of opportunities at a networking event and, indeed after one to be gracious – a great way to follow up

Grievances – Never air a grievance in public.  In fact try not to bear a grudge – it only breeds discontentment…yours. It’s wasted energy that could be redirected into more positive actions.  If you are unhappy with something or someone then deal directly with them, and ideally away from a networking event…..

H
Handshake – Someone may have taught you to stand tall, square your shoulders, stride purposefully forward, drop your voice a couple of registers, and shake hands with a firm (not too firm!) grip.

Nonverbal self-confidence is a good thing, but if you go too far it could seem like you’re trying to establish your importance.  A quick thought….. “No matter how big a deal you think you are,  are you pale in comparison to say Nelson Mandela!”

Next time you meet someone, relax, step forward, tilt your head towards them slightly, smile, and show that you’re the one who is honoured by the introduction.

There is a superb TED Talk here from Allan Pease 

14 minutes that demonstrates the “power that you have in your palm” and how best to use it.

H

Help others – seek way to help others. Genuine people are caring and look for ways, even small ones, to make others happier. Helping others makes you feel good inside. Others will notice your happiness and want to be a part of your life.  Being part of a network you have the opportunity to meet all sorts of people running all sorts of businesses – here’s a Happiness Business

Help, Don’t Sell – When speaking to someone new, don’t immediately switch to sales mode and try to ram your products and services down their throat. It won’t do you any favours. Being helpful and genuinely interested in someone’ s business, and listening to their challenges and giving them advice, is so much more effective. A hard-sell approach isn’t going to work when you are networking; it’s not what people come to hear.

How to network – in short

You can network in lots of different ways – formal, informal, in person, by phone, online … but it is important to remember that you are networking rather than pitching or selling. The people in the room (you talk to, connect with) may not be your clients but someone they know may be.

• a crystal clear idea of what you do and more importantly the benefits that what you do brings
• an offer you can express simply and clearly
• be willing to share – what you know, who you know and who you are – this is all about adding value, Abundance mentality
• focus on what you can give rather than what you want to get
• a system for keeping in touch/following up

Coming next some I’s and J’s……

Thank you for reading this far – the next instalment will be available soon and please feel free to comment and share.

If you would like to connect then you can find me on

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Have a great day and enjoy your networking and make it enjoyable and beneficial for those that you meet!

Sean Humby

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