Strategic Networking
We tend to become more like the people we spend time with, so make your decisions and time count.
My clients often list as many as 12 organizations that they belong to, in the hope that all will help to grow their businesses. However, instead of spending countless hours hoping that your attendance will result in business, try the following strategy that works wonderfully for my clients.
Make a list of ALL of the organizations that you belong to. Include work-related, community, religious, school, fitness and social groups. Separate the lists into two columns: personal and professional.
Take time to analyze each column. Ask yourself if you are benefitting from every organization. Sometimes it’s great to belong to an organization because it simply makes you feel good. Don’t give that up, but cross the ones that are not beneficial off of the list.
Next, look at the column of professional organizations. Are you getting business from them? If not, cross it off. If you don’t know if you are benefiting from your membership, it’s time to test it out. Go to the next meeting with a goal in mind. Ask for a meeting, a referral or an opportunity to present to the group.
Strategic networking results in increased business and visibility. Be sure that your efforts are time well spent.
Personal branding, like corporate branding, has powerful outcomes. Take the time to create or boost your brand and reap the benefits of your efforts.
Jill Slomski is president of Niche Team LLC, a company specializing in personal branding, coaching, speaking, training and online learning.