| Now that the sun is beginning to shine and we are all | | | | cannot tell you how much a simple thank you email |
| excited to venture out and meet new friends, I | | | | can do to your networking efforts. About a year |
| wanted to remind you of a few tips which I hope will | | | | ago, I learned that a gentleman I was going to meet |
| come in handy as you set out for that next | | | | sent a written thank you note to a friend of mine. |
| networking breakfast or lunch. | | | | Once I learned how gracious he was, I went out of |
| Tip 1: The Definition of Networking is Important | | | | my way to assist him as he was looking for a job. |
| To network means to understand what another | | | | Tip 3: It's both give and take |
| person does, who their target is and who else they | | | | If a colleague is helping you with introductions or |
| are looking to meet. Networking is not sending mass | | | | assistance, make sure you are reciprocating. If there |
| emails to people you have met for a few moments. | | | | is nothing that you can do at this time, be sure to tell |
| For me, networking means I need to know as many | | | | others of this good deed. |
| different people as possible so that when my friends | | | | Tip 4: Results may vary |
| and colleagues are in need of something, I have a | | | | Remember, networking is not a sale. It's a relationship |
| frame of reference to help. Networking is not | | | | that forms over a series of lunches, meetings, |
| meeting someone to get you more business. When | | | | conversations, etc. It takes time. If you are |
| people learn about what you do and see a need for | | | | expecting immediate results, spend money and |
| your services, they will refer business to you | | | | advertise. |
| naturally. When networking, your goal is to form a | | | | Tip 5: A good mood counts! |
| relationship. | | | | If you are not in the mood to network or in the |
| Tip 2: The Power of Thank you | | | | mood to have some fun, Don't. You will not put your |
| Thank you may be two short words but I can't tell | | | | best foot forward or be your best and others won't |
| you how powerful they are. If someone introduces | | | | meet the real you. When meeting new people, put |
| you to a new colleague, be sure to give him or her | | | | your best foot forward and use The Silver Rule. |
| an update as to the progress of the relationship. I | | | | |