Networking Tip #2 After the meeting

OK, so you went to the meeting or networking event and you collected several business cards. Now what?

Now you can focus on the real power of and purpose of attending networking meetings - building relationships with people you met there.

 First: remember when you accept a business card from someone to make some notes on the back of the card listing the date/event name, additional details,  or interesting info about the person.

Second: schedule a time and to make calls to request an appointment for a one-on-one meeting. It is in this meeting that you get to know each other for real by asking questions - what is their business/career, how did they get started in that business, what are they like as a person. They will be asking the same type questions about you and your business or career. At the end of that 30-60 minute informal conversation both of you will know much better how to help each other connect with potential clients or opportunities.

Third: a most important thing to remember is to stay in touch! Facebook and Linked In are powerful ways to inform people as a group about you and your business. However there is no substitute for a personal email, snail mail card/note, or a quick personal phone call to build that relationship bridge on a strong foundation. Ask an open-ended question to allow the person to talk first. Be prepared with an overview update on your life/activity and any requests you want to make.

There is magic in the one-on-one meeting. People begin to know you, to trust you, and to like you and what you have to offer. When that happens, they are much more likely to think of you when someone else has a need that you can fill AND to tell that person to contact you. It is like having a free marketing force out in the world singing your praises. And it all started with a contact made by Networking.

Take Charge - Get Moving!

Love and light,

Diane

Networking Tip #1

Are you shy? Don't know what to say when you meet new people? Believe it or not, other people may feel the same way when they attend a business networking event. There's a simple trick you can play with your mind to get you into the networking game. What if you took on the role of host or hostess with the assignment of making someone else feel welcome? 

 

By taking the focus away from your own discomfort and focusing on making someone else feel comfortable, you will find it's easier to say a few simple words to get a conversation started. In fact you may even prepare a few opening lines to get you started.

"Hi. I'm _________. (your name) Have you been to this meeting/event before?" 

"How long have you been a member of this group?" 

"I'm new to this group too - shall we find someone who's been a member for a while to tell us about the meeting?"

Make it a goal to meet and spend a few minutes getting to know at least three people. After the meeting it's important to follow up with an email or call within a few days to tell the person you enjoyed meeting them.Getting to know more about your new contacts (and vice versa) is the real goal of networking.

Will this technique transform a shy person into a superstar networker? Maybe not - but it will help you make the most of each opportunity to build relationships with people you may need to know.

Take Charge - Get Moving!

Love and light,

Diane

Networking (Again?)

Career transition, job search, sales, business ownership, entrepreneurial ventures, going to school, being a parent, finding a friend - most everything we do in life can be done better when we build strong networks. This human experience of ours is not about going it alone, it is about meeting challenges with the support of our networks.

Are you shy? Don't know what to say when you meet new people? Just not comfortable with the whole idea of networking? Or do you meet a lot of people, exchange business cards and then nothing happens? Good! Now you know where you're starting. In the next few posts I will give you some tips on how to be good at networking in any area of your work or life.

Take Charge - Get Moving!

Love and light,

Diane

Fresh and Engaged?

For many of my unemployed friends and clients, the unemployed state continues to be a much longer ordeal than anticipated. In past years, landing a new position was a matter of doing the basic steps: resume, network, recruiters, interviews, landing. The rule of thumb was a month for every $10K income desired. 


Today the old rules don't apply -- it is the creative and persistent job seeker and sales person who comes out ahead. 


How do you stay "fresh" over the long, long, and even longer job search? In fact, how do you stay engaged as a sales person in the longer sales cycles of today's market? 

• Understand the New Reality. The rules of the game have changed and to win, you have to be willing to change too.

• Reexamine your goals. Has your target moved or disappeared? A friend has been seeking a position as a college administrator with a substantial salary and benefits. His qualifications and expertise are extensive and would serve any institution well. However ... and here's where life is unfair ... he is over 60 years old and is not willing to relocate or take a lower salary, nor is he willing to consider "repackaging" his skills in order to himself into a new arena. The longer he is out of his career, the less desirable he is to potential employers unless he engages with life and work differently.

• Has your industry disappeared or downsized? No matter how painful change may be, it will be even more painful to try to hold on in a dying industry. Let go of the past so you can be able to notice different opportunities.

• Get creative. Break down your past experience into SKILLS that are marketable. NETWORK in order to build relationships. 87% of jobs come through a relationship, someone who knows you, knows about you and your work, or word of mouth. Make sure the right people know you.

Staying fresh and engaged in your work, especially the work of career transition, takes a lot of consciousness. No one will tell you it's easy. And don't overlook the value of engaging a success partner - a coach makes a big difference. You are worth the effort!

Take Charge -- Get Moving!

Love and light,

Diane

To DiSC or Not To DiSC

"I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort where we overlap."  Ani Defranco, American singer, songwriter

One question that comes up quite often is, "Now that I'm learning about differences in behavior style, do I need to do a guess at their DiSC style with everyone I meet?" 

Good question ... in most interactions, we are so focused on the message we are giving or receiving and what we have to do with the information that it is already too much sometimes. 

How about keeping things simple? If you are already in rapport, in sync, in alignment with the other person, you are probably paying attention on the unconscious level to how that person prefers to communicate and you are automatically adapting. Or they may have a similar preferences to yours. It is when the communication does not feel clear and easy that the DiSC Model can come to the rescue. 

By observing the distinctions regarding task-oriented and people-oriented you can begin to align your style with theirs. (See the previous blog post.)

When a person who scores high on I-Influencing works with a person who is very high on C-Compliance, he needs to slow down and pay attention to the details of the task. Vice versa - when the C needs to have a positive relationship with the I, she needs to warm up a little and start with the big picture before delving into details. 

The D-Dominant preference needs to warm up and relax a little to establish rapport with the I's and S's, and to have some understanding that C's will have far more detail than is needed by the D and that the S's will do anything they can to get the job done, if you just ask nicely.

So the answer to the question "to DiSC or not to DiSC?" is Yes! Just a little attention to what the other person prefers or needs will save time and energy and opportunities.

Take Charge -- Get Moving!

Love and light,

Diane

“Don’t compromise yourself.  You’re all you’ve got.” ― Janis Joplin

For many years I've used assessments/tools to help my coaching clients "know themselves" behaviorally. The DiSC profile, the Meyers-Briggs, or StrengthsFinder 2.0 provide excellent reports that identify style, communication preference, and personal characteristics and offer action plans for applying the information. Most of these tools share two basic truths -
1. You have to apply the information to benefit from the tool, and

2. A Strength when overused becomes a weakness.

Unfortunately, a time of transition or change is stressful - and in a stressed state we tend to be and become more of what we already are and overuse our strengths. For example: the analytical person tends to over-analyze and avoid action; the expressive and outgoing individual may rely too much on optimism and not enough on strategy and discipline; the stable amiable worker avoids effective reaching-out actions that might "interrupt" or "disturb" someone they might be networking with; and the directive style, focusing on bottom line results (or lack of results), becomes his/her own worst enemy.

Knowing who you are is a first step. The next step is owning the pitfalls of your personal style or perspective on the world and doing actions that don't necessarily feel good or natural.This is the time to grow, to develop new muscles, to use your strengths and natural gifts to their fullest. Are you an introvert? Read "The Introvert Advantage" by Lancy and begin to recognize new ways to be your truest self and still attain your goals.

Are you a "type A" dominant style? Learn to notice the effect your stressed out style has on people around you - that will give you reason to relax with a deep breath and let go of the need to "get it all done right this instant, regardless of consequences."

Don't compromise who you are. DO use all the best of who you are to achieve your goals in the shortest time and with the best results.

Take Charge -- Get Moving!
Love and light,
Diane

Clear - Concise - Compelling

What do you really want?

What is your unique value?

Tell me about yourself ...

In the last entry I asserted that everyone is OurSelf-Employed. Success depends on our being able and willing to sell "Product Me" in ways that set us apart from the competition.

In networking situations, business owners and career transitioners usually offer routine descriptions of who they are and  what they are selling or looking for. Here's an example: "I am an insurance adjuster and I sell a-b-c-... and today I am looking for people who are interested in a quote." Or "I am an IT professional with expertise in SQL, Java, etc. looking for a company in this geographical area." Ho Hum ... nothing special, not unique, uninteresting, non-compelling, unexciting ... get my drift?


The human brain looks for patterns that are quickly identifiable so it can put your information into a mental manila file folder, file it under "insurance guy" or "IT gal" and close the drawer. It isn't that the information doesn't register, it just doesn't cause the brain to think about it very much. The effect is that you are just another "x" in the file drawer.


What if you could influence the brain of your target audience to process "Product You" a little longer before filing you as data? What if curiosity were stimulated by the way you describe yourself or your service? The person might be sparked to ask you some questions, learn more, even to have a positive emotional response to you!


The photo here could be described as a glass ball resting on a laser pattern - true. That description is clear and concise, but not very compelling! Take a few minutes and think about how you might stimulate more interest in the photo. Then review your "elevator introduction" and make it more compelling. Make sure that your uniqueness and value show up as beautifully as the photo on this post.

Love and light,
Diane