Summary
Networking, we all do it, but business networking is something different or is it?
Body
Did you know, you network, we all do, we can’t help it, everyday life demands it. You might not go out at 6.30am to a breakfast meeting, or come home at 9pm after a business networking event but chances are you do actually network.
Take your neighbour over the road, he has a very nice looking, newish car, when you remark on it and he tells you all about the miles per litre, the great bargain and shows you something you don’t recognise under the bonnet and you go on to ask a question about it, you are networking.
So talking is networking? No almost, but not quite, networking involves building relationships. Business networking is just the same, it is not a quick fix for your business, networking takes time to work, just as it takes time to build a relationship and just as you have to put effort into building a relationship and maintaining the relationship once you have built it you need to dedicate time to networking too.
If you hear someone say “I tried networking it didn’t work for me” chances are they didn’t try to build the relationship first and were looking for an easier and quicker option, to date I haven’t found one but if you find something out there do let me know. For my part I can only say networking really does work for those that commit the time and effort in building the relationships first.
Rosy Holt
Regional Director for South East Herts and Enfield Athena Network
