4 First-Timer Rules For Networking from a CEO
Saw this great article on networking yesterday, and thought I would share the tips from Andrew Hoag, CEO of Black Drumm, on how to network for a first-timer.
Although his tips refer to silicon valley, I think they apply here as well.
The First-Timer’s 4 Rules for Networking:
1. Never, ever, underestimate anyone. That
old adage of the guy who cuts someone off driving to the interview,
only to find out in the parking lot it was the hiring manager, is true
more often than you’d like. The woman scraping the gum off the floor in
the restaurant may be the owner, you don’t really know. I believe that
every human being has something positive to give to this world, and
those who are open to that premise stand to benefit from it the most.
2. Be genuine. While many people will tolerate a
blowhard, most won’t reciprocate without self-interest. But by engaging
with people you genuinely enjoy, you’ll quickly see reciprocal
engagement and spontaneous acts of generosity. Being genuine is also
more efficient. Put on an act, and you’ll end up wasting precious time
in business relationships that may be useful to the other person, but
which are not in your own interest.
3. Be patient. If people think you are expecting
something from them, they tend to feel used or taken advantage of.
What’s the rush? One contact I made resulted in a very important and
marquis advisor being added to my company — three years later.
4. Give before you get. As soon as I meet someone
new I’m immediately thinking about whether I can help them, not because
I want to trade a favor (I may not need anything from them), but
because this is how I would like to be treated by them. Pro-actively
giving may seem like a cost, and it may require you to be a little
extra patient as well, but in the end, the reciprocal support I
receive, simply by offering to help people who aren’t asking for it, is
overwhelming. It builds tremendous loyalty and respect.
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Thank you this is a great refresher. I also think that this applies to non first timers as well. This is a good resource to keep in the back of our minds whenever we are networking.
Great Post, Jeremiah! It reminds me of the "7 Habits" books...
"Seek First to Understand" is the #1 habit. In my mind, that concept is woven into all four of Mr. Hoagg's tips.
My first meditation teacher (many, many years ago) used to say that every person on the planet lives every moment in absolute accordance with their own level of awareness... and that how we choose to perceive them and interact with them is clear indication of our own.
Make your day (and someone else's) magnificent!
Linda
Thanks Jeremiah and Linda. As a related thought, I find that the amazing art of "listening" is a vital part of networking and just connecting, as a whole.
I'll be "listenin'" to y'all later!
Anahid
I was so struck by #1, "Never, ever, underestimate anyone". I make it a practice to be nice to everyone - to try to brighten their day. I don't care if they're the checkout person at the grocery store, the janitor, the CEO of a big company, or a prospective client. I find that trying to enrich their day not only enriches mine, it makes me think better of everyone I come in contact with - including myself! And we all know that our point of view determines everything.
I'm also reminded of something that Randy Pausch said in his Last Lecture, which I'm going to very badly paraphrase here. "If someone is disappointing you, just wait. You may have to wait a very long time, but keep waiting. They will, at some point, surprise you." Every person is a spark of the Divine. Sometimes we have to wait to see that point of light, but never forget that it's there.
What a wonderful way to live life!
I remember years and years ago I was working a convention at COBO for ITT Terryphone. A man came up and said he was starting a new business and needed four phones and four phone lines and said to call him for an appointment. Unfortunately he was not in my territory so I handed the information to the appropriate rep. He decided that it was to small an order to waste his time on. The individual in question was named Rick Imatome of Inacomp. Although Inacomp no longer exists at one time it became a major player in it's field. By the way I later was part of the team that sold them a $60,000.00 Voice Mail system. I didn't take him for granted.