The finger-popping tune from the 80s was Janet Jackson asking the question that often in business, we have to wonder too. As we conduct business day-to-day, we tend to do business with those that we know, those that have sent some business our way, those whose business models we like and mimic and even those business folks who we don’t quite like but have to admit that they have a killer-awesome thing going. Gathering or clustering together in groups in the business world is essentially known as networking, although you will see it interpeted in many different ways. But, when I’m doing business with someone, I want to know what it is that I can get out of the deal. Selfish? No, that’s just how business works.

Networking is a powerful tool, to say the least. If you’re in business of any kind, in any any industry YOU HAVE TO NETWORK! It’s the understood mechanics of doing business. If you don’t, who will know anything about you? Who will care?

I’ve made some pret-ty good connections both online and offline in my networking affairs. I would estimate about 30-40% of my business day involves networking of some sort, whether it’s in large ways (attending business luncheons, workshops, etc.) or in small ways (providing a link to my favorite blogger/blog post) or just saying “hi!” on twitter to my favorite tweeple.

I’ve had to be creative in the ways that I choose to network since I keep a non-traditional schedule and work in a non-traditional environment. However, there are some things that I find quite interesting in the area of networking that I think people often don’t realize. For instance:

In a networking environment, why do people insist on squinching at your name-tag in an effort to say/remember/repeat your name, only to see you again five minutes later, snapping their fingers going, “now what was your name again?” Hello? If you don’t do anything else, take the time to remember that person’s name, REALLY REMEMBER IT, so that you won’t be embarassed later, trying to repeat it.

Why is it that networking luncheons require you to network WHILE you are eating lunch? Isn’t that rude, to talk with your mouth full? Or, if you sit there and say nothing, people will think you don’t want to “network” and will wonder why you’re there. Go figure.

Why is it that everybody and their brother wants to connect with you on LinkedIn and have never, ever had a prior conversation with you before via email, blog comment, phone, nothing, nada. Why would I do that? I mean, say hello to me first, let’s establish some type of base before we get all cuddly and such. I know LinkedIn is networking, but Janet…can you help me?

And finally, and most aggravatingly, why is it that people think that I want to receive all of those “forward to 10 of your friends“, and “answer this email to win a laptop“, or my favorite, “if I get this back from you, we’re really friends.” Whatever.
(This one wasn’t really a networking issue, just one that aggravates the hair off of my neck!)

Take time to culture and form solid networking opportunities with those in your sphere of influence. People are smart and can see right through facades and fakery. Especially business women, right? We have the special ability to tell when a person is trying to get one over on us or just trying to flatter our skirts up. Either way, be real, be solid in networking. Quality over quantity is what I say. Find out about the person(s), ask questions, visit their site(s), patronize their establishment. In the end and eventually, good networking practices will pay off, leaving you with quality connections and solid opportunities. If you put time and effort in, you will get quality out. Good in, good out. Bad in, bad out. Really quite simple.

After all, it’s all about what you’ve done for me lately anyway.
Oooh, oooh, oooh yeah.

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Copyright 2008 – Bridget Wright

Post from: EveryJoe

Business Marketing Monday: What Have You Done For Me Lately?