The world is full of networking opportunities. The question is, do you know what it is and how to use it? In this segment from an interview between Dale Beaumont and Robyn Henderson and find out what networking is and how you can use it to expand your opportunities.
In 1992, she authored and self-published her first networking book and is now regarded as a “Global Networking Specialist”. She has written and contributed to more than 25 books on networking, self-esteem and self-promotion.
What is networking and how can everyday people use it to expand their opportunities?
Networking is a life skill, not just something you do when you want something. There are three universal laws that form the foundations of ethical networking.
- Giving without expectations – the basic principle of helping others without an expectation of receiving something in return. It’s about being able to give someone a key piece of information or assistance that will enable them to achieve their goal, complete their task or assist them in some way. In the bestseller, Masters of Networking, Ivan Misner says, ‘Master networkers give without remembering and receive without forgetting‘. This is the key to giving without expectation.
- Understand the law of reciprocity – what you give out comes back tenfold, but not always from the same person. If you give out referrals you will receive referrals; if you give out love you will receive love; give out help and advice, receive help and advice. Good networkers are strong believers of this law of reciprocity, which also states ‘what goes around, comes around‘. So this single belief ensures that you always treat people the way you would like to be treated.
- Have an abundance mentality – in our time-poor, competitive society, abundant thinkers are often in short supply. These are the people who may still be challenged about the best way to build their careers or businesses, but ethical networkers have an underlying belief system that there is plenty for everyone. That is, plenty of opportunities for their product or service on a local, national and international scale, even though there does not appear to be sufficient market share for everyone. They know future markets may be only a personal contact away, a friend of a friend, a chance conversation, a serendipitous meeting with another. Abundant thinkers are open to ideas, networking opportunities and making the pie bigger for everyone.
People wishing to expand career or business opportunities can include networking skills into their daily and weekly plan by:
- Attending a networking event once a week.
- Allocating 15 minutes per day for networking activity. This could be a specific phone call to someone in your network, a fax, email, or sending a small gift or thank you card.
For more of this interview and about networking check out “Secrets of Great Public Speakers Exposed!“
