#Stop “Networking”, try Making Friends Instead When it comes to building a network the quality of your relationships matters more than the quantity of your relationships. Your network is one of your most valuable assets. Two things make a person a good member of your network – how relevant and qualified she is and how strong her connection with you is. The strength of the connection is the more important of the two - when someone is truly in your corner they will go out of their way to promote you. Family and close friends will put their minds to whatever problems you are facing and will constantly form opportunities and make connections for you. It makes sense to actively build your network. But in my opinion people get “networking” wrong. Too many professionals (my self often included) “work” a room of highly relevant, successful and influential people by speaking with everyone briefly. Every conversation seems to the point, promising and exciting, but at home with a pile of business cards it all seems blurry and little comes of it. “Networking” should be about making friends who are influential. When you have a CEO of a big company as a friend, you have job opportunities. When you have a prominent VC as a friend you have an invitation to pitch to anyone anytime. When you have a writer as a friend it is easier to get coverage. Here are three simple steps you can take to make friends and deep connections: In networking events - Don’t rush. If you meet someone who is relevant and you get along, stick around and talk while it is interesting to both of you. Set up the foundations for friendship. Remember – one friend who will last is worth more than a dozen small talk connections that dissipate instantly. Treat professional discussions like you would treat social interactions. Be candid and forthcoming, try to create an emotional connection and bond, listen as much as you talk. Remember – more than you want the person to think you fit job X, you want him to like you, if he likes you and you have a good proposal it tends to happen. Follow-up with a bang. Read the persons social and corporate online presence, add the context of your conversation (which was deep and honest) and characterize pain points and needs. Then solve them. Find half a dozen connections, leads and opportunities that will be mutually beneficial, make introductions and connections over a couple of weeks and you are likely to be on the top 0.1% of people on this person’s favorite list. It’s also a great way to remind the rest of your network that you care about them and are working for them. Finally – Don’t cheat. Making friends takes a long time and you cant make friends with people who you dont like. Faking friendship doesnt work. Focus on genuinely bonding with and helping people who you like and feel a connection to. Make friends with people you would want to know socially and also happen to be relevant professionally, before long you will find your network is extraordinarily powerful. By: Ari Isaacs
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 18:51:24 +0000