Question: How can I be a more effective networker? How
can I get over my fear of networking?

Fear comes from the thought that something bad will happen in the next moment. In the here and now, we are safe, nothing bad is happening. Take a look at the thoughts you have about networking. Write down all the negatives. Then find an opposite positive. Next step - take an action in
the positive direction. Then establish success “one step at a time.” So something small you know you can do and work your way into larger, more challenging opportunities.

Following are some practical steps to establishing good networking habits. You will note there are eleven ideas - take it one step beyond the Top Ten Ideas and you will take it to excellence!

1. Get Excited and Enthusiastic About Meeting New People.
Networking is not a chore - you have the opportunity to meet someone who may be exciting and wonderful. Give them a chance.

2. Take Your Story With You Everywhere.
Always have business cards, resumes, whatever is the appropriate form of
your story, depending on your networking goals.

3. Set Networking Goal Weekly.
Set a goal each week for the number of contacts you want to make, new, re-connections and reinforcements. Be realistic so you can meet that goal
consistently. Establishing a success consciousness with your goals will allow you to come from a more confident place when you network.

4. Reach Out.
Have a great introduction, simple, 30 seconds or less, that tells the other person who you are and what you do. Then ask a few questions inquiring about them and their career. A great listener is often mistaken for a great conversationalist. Ask for their card or brochure.

5. Maintain a networking file, with notes to help you remember important details (business and personal) that allow you to personalize your communications.
Keep this file up to date as much as possible, including ideas/referrals given and gotten.

6. Give What You Want to Get.
As you are listening to who they are and what they do, look in your mental library for a tip, resource, idea that you can share with them. They will
want to do the same for you.

7. Follow-up.
The next day, send a note of appreciation, handwritten (legibly), stating something specific and personal about the other person, your meeting with them, etc. Positive Impact, Inc. has wonderful postcards for this purpose, with great quotes on them which guarantee the card won’t get thrown away.

8. Follow-up Again and Again.
Have another idea or resource to share? Send it with a note and your business card.

9. Share Resources and Contacts.
Become known as a master networker. People will think of you often and connect with you often. You can use those opportunities to ask for what
you need or “accumulate credits” to your account for a later need.

10. Return All Calls ASAP.
Even if you call after hours and leave a message as to when you are available for a return call. Or have an assistant call for you (if you have that kind of support) to say when you will be available. Ignored calls kill your network.

11. Take Action.
When you receive a contact, an idea, a resource - use it, check it out. Do something with it, other than leave it sit on your desk. Then let the person who gave you that information know what happened. That makes them feel valuable, it lets them know you really used what they gave you and makes them want to give more.

In the words of Dr. Ivan Misner, founder of Business Network International, “It is not net sit or net eat, it is netWORK!”

We conquer our fears by replacing the unknown with the known. Begin exploring the territory. Maybe the first few networking opportunities you will just watch others do it. Study what they do. Model yourself after someone you know is a successful networker. Do what they do, one step at a
time, until you can do it too!