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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It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and become bored at meet-and-greet events, business expos and leads groups.  Take a chance and step outside your comfort zone.  Parties and social gatherings can only take you so far in your networking circles.

The following “think outside the box” venues allow you to meet people and expand your networking horizons.

1.    Coffee houses – This is a favorite hangout for the meeting of the minds. Strike up a conversation while you’re waiting in line for your latte.  Even a simple hello or small talk could open up the conversation and lead to exchanging business cards.

2.    Book stores – Book stores attract a wide variety of people. Check out bookstores on the weekends when the store is busy with foot traffic. Bookstores draw large crowds, especially when they host book signings. Sign up for a book club – this gives you another opportunity to meet more people.

3.    Laundry mats – A laundry mat is a unique spot to meet new people. You have a captive audience since people have to wait for their clothes to dry. If your apartment or condo complex has a laundry room on-site, this is great place to meet your neighbors and get to know them better. You’ll never know where the conversation could lead. They might be in need of your products or services.

4.    Grocery stores – When you’re waiting in line, strike up a conversation with the person next to you. Make small talk – pick up a magazine on the corner aisle and comment on current news. People always love to give their opinion and offer feedback. This is a great segue into finding out more about a person.

5.    Gym/fitness classes – The gym or yoga classes are another great place to meet new people. It’s easy to chat about your health/fitness goals with like-minded people. Because you consistently see the same people in your classes or at the gym, it’s easy to find out about people’s lives, jobs, kids, etc.  People are more relaxed during or after a work-out and are more likely to share personal details.

6.    Dog parks – If you’re an animal lover (especially in big cities), dog parks are one of the hottest spots to meet new people. Who doesn’t love talking about their beloved Spot? Talking about common interests, such as animals, helps break the ice.

7.    Kids’ Activities – School functions and sports activities allow you to meet other parents and support your children’s interests. It also opens up a new circle of people you wouldn’t meet otherwise.

8.    Church – If you attend church/a place of worship, take the opportunity to chat with people in your congregation. You may find that you share other common interests, and fellow church members might just turn into your next client.

9.    Volunteer/Charity Work – Charity work is not only a great way to give back to your community, but you meet a diverse range of people as a result of your volunteer efforts. Many professionals enjoy volunteering their time (think charity golf tournaments and gala events) – you might be surprised who you’ll meet!

10.     Airports and airplanes – Airports and airplanes are one of the easiest ways to meet new people and exchange business cards. If you’re on a four hour flight, this is a great opportunity to make small talk with the person next to you. Take a genuine interest in what the other person is doing (comment on how much you like the book they’re reading, etc.) People can spot a fake a mile away – so keep it real.

Whenever you step outside your door, make sure you always have your business cards in your purse or wallet. You never know who you’ll meet that day. When meeting people, always remember to share a common ground and actively engage the other person in conversation.  Make small talk and remember to always listen.

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).

Meeting people and organizing a time to get together is a great way to share ideas, make new friends and plan for the future.  However, whenever you organize a meeting it is always a challenge to really engage the attendees and get them talking.  Without this interaction, a meeting can be boring, unproductive and fall just short of a disaster.  So what is the best way to draw people out and get them to be active participants? Consider these ideas:

1.     Try to do a bit of pre-meeting planning so individuals know what to expect.  This can be done by sending an email to those that have responded to the meeting invite.  Ask them to tell you what topics they would like to see covered.

2.    Share your own ideas.  As the organizer or leader of a meeting, one of the best ways to get people to open up is to be open yourself.  If you share your ideas freely, others will be more inclined to follow suit.

3.    Ask for their opinions.  Some people are just too shy to speak up on their own but they are willing to speak out if asked directly.  A lot of times we overlook this little nuance of human behavior.  Some folks just need to be invited to speak.

4.    Never put down the ideas or suggestions that someone has offered.  Their ideas may be different than yours but every idea and opinion has its own value.  Criticism, sarcasm and ridicule are sure-fire ways to stop communication.

5.    Consider the use of a suggestion box for topics to be covered at future meetings.  Sometimes individuals who are too intimidated to contribute within the group will have good ideas to share.  A suggestion box allows them to share those ideas in a more subtle manner.  If they have identified themselves with the suggestion, be sure to thank them in a positive manner when you bring up their idea, so maybe next time they’ll feel secure enough to share openly with the group.

6.    Try not to rush meetings if possible.  If the atmosphere is calm, friendly and relaxed, you may get better results.  Some people take a little while to become comfortable and willing to participate.

7.    As simple as it may seem, if this is a first meeting, name tags are a great idea.  This way, as leader of the meeting, you can direct questions or ask suggestions of individuals by name.  This automatically makes people feel more at ease in the situation and may result in better communication.

8.    Be sure to show appreciation of ideas and input, and thank individuals openly for their contributions.

9.    If future meetings are planned, try delegating different tasks to different members that they can bring back to the next meeting, something like a homework assignment.  This will not only get people involved with the project, it will also give them time to prepare for presenting what they have found at the next meeting.

10.    Make it fun! Dry, dull and boring meetings are not something anyone enjoys!

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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.

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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.

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We’ve all met people whom we thought were “so lucky”.  We humans tend to think luck is behind our lives’ misfortunes and successes; however, deep inside, we know that luck has nothing to do with what happens in our existence, don’t we?  What we so despairingly call luck is just the set of actions and beliefs of the “lucky” people, and how they apply them to business and their lives.

Individuals who are “lucky” in business and life, happen to share eight distinctive characteristics:

1.    They talk to everyone
Strangers are intimidating to most of us, however, many great experiences can result from talking to people we don’t know.  You never know… you might get ‘lucky’!

2.    They love small talk
Many people disregard small talk because they see it as unproductive. What they forget is that small talk can lead to the big talk when they least expect it.

3.    They ‘drop’ names
Although some may think that individuals that drop names are showoffs, one may find common ground and open doors when discovering you both know the same people.  There is indeed a way of dropping names with class.

4.    They listen and snoop
Lucky people are excellent listeners, observers, and eavesdroppers.  Being attentive can get you lots of information and is an inexpensive way of researching the market.

5.    They offer and ask for help
No one can do it alone; everyone needs help once in a while.  Lucky individuals let others know what they need and also offer to help out of good will.

6.    They wander off their path
The saying goes: “Not all who wander are lost”… how true!  When the opportunity arises, lucky people seize it, no matter where it leads; lawyers have become entrepreneurs, doctors have become writers, accountants have become singers, and teachers have become volunteers.

7.    They leave with grace
These individuals know when to leave, while they are still at their best and without creating enemies.  They know how the win/win scenario works, and recognize what’s best for all.

8.    They say yes, even if they want to say no
You never know where opportunities lie.  By saying no to something that may get in the way of your busy schedule, you may be also saying no to the chance of a lifetime.

That’s the luck in it all.  Lucky people are only lucky because they know what they want and they go for it with all their heart. They don’t let others or their circumstances get in the way. They believe in themselves and know someone out there will too, so they set out to meet people and to find that lucky person that is waiting to change their lives.

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