Networking with FOCUS - Beyond Money

Having discussed how important it is to have a clear vision of the financial return on your investment in networking, we need to turn our attention to the other ways networks can benefit both you and your business.

While new business is a key driver for many people joining groups, networkers report a range of rewards derived from their activities. Whether you are looking at personal development and support as an individual or staff development and new ideas for a business, it is important to have a clear range of objectives.

With more and more people leaving corporate life to work for themselves, networks can fill the void left after being surrounded by colleagues all day. It is only when you have left this environment that you can truly appreciate the value of having a group of people to share frustrations with, brainstorm problems and generate new ideas. The peer group support provided by many networking groups can prove invaluable.

Larger organisations should not dismiss this benefit and its relevance to their staff either. Giving your key employees a safe environment in which to develop their confidence, try new ideas, present to other businesses and be motivated by a support network can increase their productivity tremendously.

By having a clear focus on which of these intangible objectives will benefit your business, you can make a better decision on which networks to join, who needs to attend and what you need to put in to them in order to get the results you want.

Next time … Giving Your All.

The 51-51 Equation

I recently met a very interesting woman, Servane Mouazan, who describes herself as a social entrepreneur and social innovation coach.

Servane has a theory about networking which she calls 'The 51-51 Equation'. Servane describes this as a way to measure and value your connections and your networking standards. Relationships which follow Servane's equation should result in benefits for both parties.

The principle expressed by Servane is nothing new, but the equation is a very nice way of expressing the importance of the old adage of going the extra mile. If both parties in an interaction take one more step than that expected of them, the results will be a much stronger relationship and greater levels of trust and rapport.

Servane describes the simple steps you can take to go beyond a 'flat 50%-50%'. Simple things such as recommending someone else to attend an event when you can't; prompting people who are explaining their business to you at speed networking by asking the right questions or helping the host clear up at the end of networking events. As Servane puts it, 'this is the moment when secrets are revealed!'.

Many people now recognise that networking effectively means much more than just collecting business cards and getting sales. The power of networks to provide support, advice and knowledge to its members is of increasing importance to many business people. By offering such support, you raise your profile and reputation in your network and naturally draw people to you.

The 51-51 equation is about going beyond what is expected and into the realms where you stand out from others and connect on a much deeper level.