A lot of people in search for a job think twice before engaging into business networking.  They don’t see themselves as networking material, this is, they don’t believe anyone will have an interest in talking to them or even less take time out of their schedules to help them.

Before you take this path and torture yourself with these thoughts, consider these:

1.    People’s natural instinct is to help.  It comes natural to us.  When you see someone in need, the first thing you want to do is give him or her a hand in any way you can, right?

2.    Most probably the person you are talking to has been in your same situation or a similar one, thus, he or she will relate and will want to give back.  In this time of continuous lay-offs, it is very probable that you will meet someone who was looking for a job not too long ago and was also requesting others for a few minutes of their time.  You are just giving them an opportunity to help others.

3.    Maybe they will see you for their own convenience.  Someone may think you are a future potential networking source.  Good networkers know that building a successful network is a continuous process, and they are always on the look for new faces.

4.    You may have something the other person needs, perhaps information, experience, or connections.  If you have networked before, you may have valuable and relevant information about your industry.  Read professional journals, articles, and books.

5.    When meeting with a manager, see it this way:  this is a part of his or her job; he or she is in the position to identify good talent, and there is no way they can find that talent if they don’t meet the candidates.  There won’t necessarily be an open position right away; however, after meeting you, the manager will keep you in mind for future opportunities.

6.    It is possible that someone knows about a job opportunity but doesn’t mention it to you, and this is a common tactic used to maintain the meeting more casual and to be able to assess you without the pressure and demands of a job interview.

7.    You may impress someone with the way you introduced yourself or with how you talked about your background, and he or she may agree to give you some time because you caught his or her attention.  This is a very good opportunity that we hope you take advantage of to start business networking or begin your own network.

The truth is that people have more than one reason to meet you, so, you have two choices: either you network or you are out of work.

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Everyone has heard about The Secret, world-renowned book and movie that shows you how to attract what you want into your life. As you immerse yourself in busy, frantic schedules you sometimes don’t have time to stop and breathe. When you first meet people, you might walk away from a conversation because you think that person was rude and dominated the conversation.

Do you realize that the person you met is a direct reflection of who you really are? You may be just as rude and dominating as the person you just met.

Have you ever been in a bad relationship and wondered: how did I end up with this person? This is not the person I wanted to attract. However, you did attract that person.
The laws of attraction are simple – who and what you attract is WHO you really are. This same principle applies to networking and how you can attract that perfect client that resonates with who you are.  What you put out there to people is what you will get back in return.

Ask yourself the following questions:

•    Are you negative and critical?

•    Are you the first one to make crass, pessimistic comments?

•    Do you complain about your life and have a “poor me” attitude?

•    Do you feel that everyone is out to get you – customers, colleagues, etc.?

If you find yourself answering “yes” to these questions, then it’s time to re-evaluate your own attitudes and how you view yourself. If you approach life in a critical, negative way, you will attract negative and unhappy people into your business and your life.

Think about your current clients and customers.

•    What do you like about them?

•    What do you dislike about them?

•    Have you accepted clients that you didn’t like and felt they would be more hassle than they were worth?

Even though the economy is tough right now and you can’t afford to turn away clients, it’s important to listen to your initial gut instinct when you meet people.  Here are some easy rules to follow to attract positive, helpful people into your networking circle:

•    Do not surround yourself with people who bring you down or lower your self-esteem. Interact with positive, energetic people.  Feed off their positive energy which only fuels productivity. Being around negative, pessimistic people will only reinforce negative thoughts and destructive behaviors.

•    If you want to attract trustworthy clients and business partners, then practice what you preach.  Be a good role model to others and they will take your ethical lead.

•    Think more about others and less about yourself - show appreciation for the kind, caring people in your life.

•    List the positive qualities and traits you like in others  - send out that message by verbalizing the list out loud or writing the list on a piece of paper. Share that message to the world that you only want to attract positive people into your business.

Remember that you need to first make changes with yourself.  Stop blaming others for what you don’t have in your life.  If you are positive and happy, you will attract positive people into your life – the right people to help you achieve success!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Social media has created an Internet phenomenon and has taken online networking to a dynamic level. Do you ever wonder why social media is so successful? It’s viral and it spreads quickly – just like word-of-mouth spreads quickly in offline networking.

When you meet people for the first time, take a few lessons from the social media gurus and apply their secret tactics to your offline networking strategy.

Secret #1- Social means both talking and listening. Listening is just as important as talking

When you interact on a forum or leave comments on a blog, you first read what the other person wrote and then you comment. If you constantly leave comments about yourself and don’t interact and comment off-topic, you will make a bad first impression.  Other members will ignore you.

This same philosophy applies when you are first introduced to people. You want to learn about them and ask questions. How can you learn about a person if you are constantly talking about yourself? Pay attention, listen and ask appropriate questions according to the conversation topic.

Secret #2- Widgets that instantly find thousands of followers don’t always give the best return on investment

Social media gurus always tout the benefits of handy widgets that automate Facebook and Twitter followers. Do you realize that the 5,000 people you just added probably won’t be interested in your products or services? You just wasted time and money adding people who don’t care about what you’re pitching.

Use this same social media approach when you attend networking events and collect business cards. Don’t just pitch your products/services to just anyone you meet. Talk to people who might actually benefit from what you offer. It doesn’t make sense to attend a networking event filled with seniors if you are a nightclub owner whose target audience is 21 year-old college students.

Secret #3- Freebies don’t always mean more subscribers, BUT worthwhile freebies make all the difference

Freebies don’t always mean instant success. Contests don’t always draw thousands of new members to your site either.  In the social media world, if you make your prize too abstract or unappealing, you will drive away visitors.

This social media tactic also applies to freebies offered in the offline world. If you attend networking events and conduct raffles or contests, make your prizes worthwhile for guests. Target your audience and get inside their heads. You want your guests to actually use the product or service you’re giving away.

•    How will this freebie benefit the contest winner?

•    Will this freebie make them contact me for more services or products?

Secret #4- Don’t scare away others with the “me me me” syndrome

If you start every blog comment or tweet with “I did” or “I want” then you are headed down the “me me me” syndrome path.  Social media is all about helping others. Being an expert in your field doesn’t mean acting like an egomaniac.

If you start every networking conservation with “I” you will be met with glazed over expressions. Don’t be surprised when people make excuses to leave the conversation. Remember the “social” in social media and apply that to your offline conversations. Social means give and take – social doesn’t mean a one-sided, it’s all about me conversation.

Secret #5- Always use professional Net-iquette

Don’t come across as rude or condescending in your Facebook or Twitter updates. You never know who will come across your updates in the cyber world, and how it can come back to haunt you.

This tip should always be applied to offline networking. Always remember to practice professional, ethical etiquette whenever you meet new people. Think before you speak, and remember that you represent your company/business. First impressions make a lasting impression, so always put your best face forward.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

One of the many benefits of local networking and consistently trying to meet new people involved in your company or organization’s area of interest is the exposure to new people who may be interested in serving on your board of directors.  Choosing candidates for sitting on a board can be challenging, but knowing who to look for is half the battle.

For a Board of Directors to be successful it must have a good working dynamic made up of members who are committed to the growth and development of the organization.  Most board members will have established a strong identity in the local community and will be known for their hard work and efforts to the organizations’ area of interest.   The board should also be diversified to encourage a variety of opinions, outlooks and approaches.  If your organization is in the process of setting up a board of directors, or is just in need of replacing members who have left, this article will provide some tips on how to identify the best potential board members for your group.

Visibility
A potential board member should be well-established and well-known in the community.  He or she should have a reputation as an honest, involved and respected individual.

Insightfulness
You want to find people to sit on your board who are intelligent, open-minded and able to see the big picture in order to serve the board well.  Individuals with a biased or very narrow focus will not likely be able to provide the forward thinking and problem-solving skills that will serve the best interests of the whole organization and the community it serves.

Honesty
Board members must be honest and genuinely interested in the goals and visions of the organization.  An individual who possesses integrity and good ethics will work to promote the cause at hand in only truthful, above board ways and will not stoop to deal making or cutting corners.

Team Player
While an individual’s personality and behavior is to be closely considered for serving on a board, that person must also be able to work well in a team-centered environment.  You want people who can listen well, express themselves well and then work together to solve issues.

Availability
A good candidate for board membership must have the necessary time to dedicate to serving the board, and want to put that time in willingly.  You want to see evidence of the enthusiasm and energy that will be applied to the position.  An individual that needs to be coaxed or prodded into serving on the board will most likely fall short of your expectations in the end.

Strong Convictions
Board members need to believe in the goals of the organization and be willing to stand up for what they believe in.  A strong board needs some members who are not merely observers and passive participants.  You must have some members who are willing to speak up and motivate others with their passion and inspiration

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Networking is an art as much as a business strategy.  It is also a skill that can be learned, and one that you require if you want to be successful in the current business arena.

There are many tricks to networking, however, you don’t have to be a magician to learn this valuable ability, you just have to pay attention to several details and be conscious about the way in which you approach people:

1.    Adapt your attitude
Networking is about helping others; it is a way of life, and as it comes, it goes.  It takes advantage of the laws of the universe, which will always rule it.

2.    Evaluate your network
Be sure to know whom you know.  Make a list of all the people you know, including your hairdresser, the cashier at the supermarket, your mechanic, your accountant, your dentist, and even your favorite waiter.  Important ‘titles’ mean nothing, you never know who will lead you to someone who can truly help you.

3.    Relate to people of all ages and backgrounds who are good professionals
You can learn valuable things from everyone you meet.  You can find mentors anywhere and everywhere.  Offer to help them from the heart, and ask for help confidently.

4.    Form a network before you need something
Attending business networking events, community organizations, or chambers of commerce only when you need them for something is not going to take you anywhere but down.  In networking, you don’t look out for yourself, instead, as you look out for others, the help you need will come your way.

5.    Stay visible
You have to be everywhere and get known.  Say yes to every invitation, even if you want to say no, other successful networkers will be there too.

6.    Become a matchmaker
Help your contacts meet the people who can help them meet their needs.  Only the most powerful people are selfless enough to help others succeed without a personal interest in the match.

7.    Keep in touch
Just call or write to say hi and to ask how things are going.  Invite people to lunch or coffee, just to have a good time learning more about them, no hidden motives involved

8.    Keep people informed
When someone refers you, gives you an idea, or a lead, keep them informed of your progress so that they know to what extent they were useful.  It is just simple, but deep, courtesy.

9.    Value small talk
If you think small talk is BS talk, excuse me, but you’re a snob.  The intelligent networker knows that small talk leads to big talk, because this is how we bond.

10.    Have manners
The best of the best are always respectful, courteous, and gracious, and they always acknowledge others for their help and support.

11.    Reciprocate
Give back your support, help, and advice.  In fact, if possible, be the first to give all these to others, and expect nothing in return.

12.    Follow up
For effective business networking, you have to stay in the loop as to how your contacts are doing after you helped them, in this way; you ensure they will be there for you when your time comes.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

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Many renowned business writers and self-proclaimed gurus will tell you that the biggest sin in business is not returning a call in a timely manner or not answering an email within 24 hours of it hitting your inbox.

It is obviously clear how being responsive can benefit your business; however, there are certain calls and emails that are not worth your effort.

When you receive a phone message that sounds like an advertisement, because only the name and phone number are left without any meaningful message, you should not answer it.  Equally, if you receive a call from someone you have already worked with and clearly dislike, or from a friend who only contacts you to ask for favors, don’t waste your time.

Laura has a cousin who never picks up the phone herself, not even at home.  Her secretary screens all her phone calls and she never returns a message.  Eventually, her whole family stopped calling her because they got tired of not receiving an answer, and that was probably her intention in the first place.

The same goes for emails.  Do not answer an email if you don’t want further contact with that certain person.  Incredibly, some rude people think they can get away with emailing others they have insulted and still receive an answer.  No, they are not writing to apologize, they are writing because they need something from you.  Resist the urge to give them a lesson in writing or on the phone, it will only lower you to their level and will be a waste of time.  The worst you can do to them is ignore them, because they normally don’t even notice what they have done; they are that disconnected.

The best you can do is distance yourself completely from these kinds of people because, how can you know what they will do next?  Are you willing to risk your reputation by being close to such a dysfunctional person?  Do you care enough to help them see their error?  Probably not.

Normally, it is very clear when you have to reach a point where you no longer answer someone’s calls or emails, and you have to follow your intuition otherwise, you are not honoring your time, energy, and reputation.  When you meet people of different backgrounds and ages, some of their behavior just finds the way to work against them every single time.  That is a message you should indeed receive loud and clear.

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The regulars hide every time Martin arrives at a marketing event, leaving the new networkers to their own fate and Martin’s dreadful questions.  You see, just like Martin, many people believe that asking endless questions makes people feel comfortable and more willing to open up; when in reality ‘questioners’ invade your space and are just plain annoying.

Good questions can stimulate a conversation when they encourage intelligent observations and personal experiences; however, cross the line and you will kill any chance of starting a relationship with the other part.  ‘Questioners’ just take information, energy, and time.

The first time Martin attended a marketing event, Phillip approached him to greet him, and started a conversation.  As incredible as it may seem, within five minutes of knowing him, Martin fired a questionnaire at Phillip that left him dumbfounded.  He literally drained Phillip and annoyed him to the extent that he wished iPhones had a mute button that worked on people.

Needy people may welcome a ‘questioner’.  Their need for attention is so big that they can’t believe their luck when someone just can’t stop asking them questions about themselves, however, serious professionals don’t have the time and energy to waste on such insecure people.  Yes, ‘questioners’ are, in many cases, people who are so insecure about themselves and their capacity that they ask lots of questions to see where they can find a space to fit, or else they think of themselves as so bright and important that they think they deserve answers from everyone and in regards to anything.

There is the caring and flattering curiosity of someone who wants to know how you made it to where you are in order to learn from your experience, and there’s the other side, the person who wants to suck your experience out of you as if by asking questions they could seem wiser.

Good questions are asked out of a sincere interest for the person.  The best networkers ask questions that make us a part of the dialogue without intruding.  They will listen to our answer and make an intelligent and important remark.

The best way to get good in the art of asking questions is by listening to those who already master it.  Pay close attention to what they say, how they say it, and what they do, but most importantly, observe how others react to their words.

Your mission in business networking is to arm yourself with valuable stories, clever observations, important revelations, and intelligent questions that will allow you to mingle among the best of the best as a meaningful part of the group.

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There are countless successful business styles; however, an infallible one is based on the principle of giving in order to receive.  Connecting with others and giving from the heart most certainly will bring an abundance of business back to you.

Take Sally Jones, for example.  Sally was born a giver.  She is a jewelry designer and owned a small jewelry business.  Not very long ago, she moved from a small mid-west town to New York City, only carrying her work materials and equipment, and lots of dreams for her jewelry venture.  One year later, Sally’s jewelry pieces were featured in some of the best fashion stores on New York’s avenues and had a staff of ten people.  You may be wondering, how did a complete stranger, a shy and innocent girl from a small town made it so big so fast in a city like New York?

Well, as we said before, Sally is a natural giver, and as soon as she arrived to the big apple, she started being herself.  She went out of her way to help everyone however she could, from neighbors, to passersby on the street, to people in need.  On her limited means, she once fed a family of six for a whole month; she volunteered with local sheltering organizations, and every weekend she took a different group of orphans to the movies, the museum, or to the park.  In her free time, she designed her jewelry.

Don’t even go there… she didn’t do all these things with the thought of acquiring business; honestly, would you be able to do just a fraction of all that with the only motive of getting more clients?  Bets are on!  Sally didn’t have the experience to think of that, she did all those things just because she felt inclined to do them, but believe it or not, her business started to bloom almost immediately.

Sally is a people person, and as such, as soon as she arrived to New York she started making lots of good friends, and these friends became clients who talked to other people, and soon, she had made her jewelry popular among a significant group of people, and as the caring person she is, she thanked them in many ways.  After trying it once with huge success, she made it a habit to invite groups of friends and clients to small gatherings at her jewelry studio.  She would show them how she worked and what her vision was, and would greet them with great food and a special gift.  This was perfect for her business and her style, because it blended the two things she loved the most, her art and pleasing people.

Successful people have a single personality no matter the occasion.  Be it business or pleasure, Sally is always her old giving self.  But how exactly did Sally land the huge opportunity to feature her jewelry pieces all over New York City?  Well, one Sunday morning she was strolling along Central Park with a group of ten kids from an orphanage, when a woman who was walking her dog, fell down.

Even though Sally had her hands full with the kids, she ran to help her get up, helped her sit on a bench after making sure she was alright, and ran to call her driver who was waiting for her on the other side of the park.

The woman was already gone when Sally noticed she had lost a beautiful gold and blue gems bracelet when she fell.  Sally ran to find her and was able to return the bracelet before the woman left the park.  When the woman offered a reward, Sally kindly rejected it saying that she just didn’t want her to lose such a beautiful piece, and that’s when the woman noticed the necklace Sally was wearing.  It was a beautiful and delicate white gold and pink stone piece.  The woman, whose name was Amanda, asked her about it and Sally told her she had designed it.

To make a long story short, it turns out Amanda was a famous fashion executive in charge of selecting the clothes and accessories for a major chain of fashion stores, and within two months of Sally helping her, she got her a really good place at the stores’ jewelry section.

Anyone can be like Sally; we all have a giver within. Just be aware of this and experience how being good every time you meet people can bring you wild success and much more personal satisfaction.

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As a busy executive with a fulfilling personal life, you probably do not prioritize business networking as an important activity to meet new contacts.  There are just so many appointments involving so many people that it is difficult to think about meeting even more people, right?

Even if this seems logical, it is very wrong when you consider that, anyway, we meet lots of new people every day and this doesn’t alter our schedules, and also that if you do not expand regularly your circle of acquaintances, you could be jeopardizing your chances for business growth and success.

If you know 200 people, and your contacts know another 200 each, we’re talking about 40,000 potential leads right at your fingertips.  You surely don’t want to miss your share of info on a good job, more clients, an opportunity for a deal, a writing assignment, an investment break, or the best bargains, among many others.

Business networking is one of the most valuable activities you can engage into, and it is easy to become good at it; you just have to remember this rule, which is applicable to any kind of networking or any other kind of encounter: be open to learn more about each person you meet, be willing to help, and offer to stay in touch.

Networking helps you enhance your communication skills by encouraging friendly conversation.  Even if you don’t develop a relationship with someone, that person will remember you as a nice individual, and will say so if asked in the future.

If you are a very busy person, limit your networking events to those crucial for your business. Take advantage of every single casual contact you have during the day, and take more business cards than you give out so that you can control the timing for developing relationships.  While networking online, focus on your topics of interest and contact strategic people based on their profiles.  You can search for people who work in a specific field, live in a certain city, or happen to be experts on key topics, and they will probably acknowledge you because you both belong to the same communities.

As you can see, there is no such thing as no time to network.  There are many options to choose from without sacrificing your personal or business time while at the same time ensuring you are meeting people that will most certainly put you ahead in the business game.

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A year and a half ago, Justin Davidson moved from North Carolina to Boston to be closer to his family.  He never had second thoughts in regards to finding a job quickly; after all, he had more than fifteen years of renowned experience and high quality recommendations from outstanding professionals in the advertising field.

Nevertheless, he quickly found out that the job market was not buoyant.  He spent six months surfing the net and applying for different positions posted there, as well as delivering his resume to every advertising agency and company in the area, only to discover this was a waste of time.

Once he started analyzing what he was doing wrong, he discovered that he was failing on the bonding part.  Boston was his hometown; however, he had moved away a long time ago and had little local acquaintances, if none at all, so he was counting on finding a good job through Internet ads.  What he had not considered was that thousands or other people had had the same idea, diminishing significantly his odds of being selected.

Six months after he moved, Justin started to build a local social and business network.  He joined communities dedicated to his hobbies and his career and started making friends and contacts.  Later he started telling these people about his job search and leads began to cascade before the actual job postings were published. He got called for interviews, and he finally got a great job.

What Justin did was to network his way into a job.  Networking is not just about mingling among people and delivering business cards; it can give you a solid database of contacts from where you can get deals, referrals, business ideas, and even a job.

Your business network should have past and current colleagues, students from your school, all kinds of people in your field, and your friends.  From there, you can schedule lunches or coffee breaks to talk in person to these people; this is the best way to boost your chances with them.  Get in touch with people you haven’t talked to in a while, and don’t forget to meet new people too.  Ask your contacts for business referrals, and contact them directly.  Attend networking events to expand your contact list fast, stick with a few events and attend regularly; this will increase your chances greatly.

Once you have made valuable contacts, you have to stay in touch.  Don’t expect people to remember you after one encounter if a job opportunity appears; take the time to send them a ‘nice meeting you’ note and invite them to lunch or coffee after a couple of weeks.  Find things or likes that you both have in common and share your time doing a certain activity.

Networking works when you develop a relationship with the other person, and when you enjoy their company.  It takes dedication and time, but the more you give to it, the sooner you will see results.  Justin is a clear example of this, within four months he had landed a great job, doing what he likes and being paid really well for it, but learn from his experience… start business networking while you still have a safe job, in this way, you will not get caught off guard.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

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