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Business Networking Might Be Great For Business Leads & Personal Contacts, But You May Be Wasting Your Time

Do you attend business-networking events in order to collect business leads that can open doors for you? Well, you may be wasting your time. Let me explain.

I know you have heard many people talk about business networking, and how necessary it is in gathering business leads and making meaningful connections. You may even have your own special technique on how to work the room. You would be amazed at the number of books out there on this very subject.

Perhaps you have already been to a few business-networking events. You are probably expecting a few good contacts to come out of the pile of cards that are sitting on your desk right now. But before you make those calls, you may want to read on.

In my book, No Condition is Permanent, I talk about being a small fish in a big pond. I even share some excellent tips on how to swim with the big fish. But, my first advice to you is to rethink your business networking strategy. You should ask yourself the following questions: "Can the connections I am making really help me to get ahead? Am I swimming in the right pond with the right fish?"

Here is something to think about…If you are running with a circle of people who are just out there hassling to make contacts, then you yourself could just be running in circles. You see, it’s not about collecting as many business contacts as you can. You want business contacts that are going to be useful. Now, I am not saying that some of the people in the circle may not turn out to be a good resource for you. But you may want to reach for a level where those contacts have never been before.

So, avoid networking with people who are hassling you to get your business, or those who just want something from you. Networking is truly about creating long-term relationships that can pull you up. Now, notice I am talking about making connections versus getting favors. All relationships should be a two-way street, both personal and professional.

Now, I don't mind giving my business and my business advice to others. In fact, I have done plenty of that. I outsource almost everything in my office to other small businesses. But there comes a time when you have to realize the people you are linked with now may not be in a position to help you get to the next level. Or some of those contacts may just be looking out for Number One. You should seek out influential people who can swing some doors open for you, and help you get where you want to go. You need to push forward in order to get ahead.

Here's how to do so:

1. Do something to get on the radar of those in a position to assist you. Speaking for the National Speakers Association automatically put me in touch with Les Brown, Mark Victor Hansen, and the like. My book also put me in contact with many influential people. I am now in the process of negotiating terms for a motion picture. Well, I just had to brag a little.

Okay, you may not be in a position to write a book or keynote a big conference yet. But I’m certain there’s something you can do to move your own career along. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box—a little creativity. Mark Victor Hansen wanted to meet with a mover and a shaker in his field. When he found out that the person was travelling out of town, Mark decided to purchase a first-class airline ticket just to sit next to the person he wanted to make a connection with.

2. Instead of attending business networking events to collect business leads, become a private investigator. Do a little investigating to find out what challenge the people whose radar you are trying to get on are facing. Then write an article about the challenge or problem and offer some solutions. Send the article to a key player in your field. You only need one key contact to introduce you to the rest of the people in that group. Does that make sense to you? You may even have an idea to help raise money and awareness for a cause that you know is important to the people you are trying to reach. Contact them and let them know about it.

3. Brainstorm for ideas. Here’s a clever way to come up with ideas that can help you contact a key influencer: Take a piece of paper and write your goals across the top of it; then jot down every way you might be able to make the connection. Be outrageous. Go for it!

But remember, as you strive to make those meaningful contacts, definitely be available to be a meaningful contact to someone else. And I am dead serious about that. Success is also a two-way street. You must have one hand reaching for the top and another reaching to help pull someone up from the bottom.

I wish you incredible success!

Rene Godefroy

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