Joyfully networking!
Posted on March 06, 2016 by Adrienne MacDonald, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
Do you hate networking see it as drag rather than a great way to learn about other people and how you can collaborate together.
Coffee meetings are a great way to network for both people to share your business information and get to know each other on a personal level.
I will share a few of my tips blow and please feel free to add your tips.
Choose a place closer to the person you are inviting ask them what their favorite coffee/tea is and etiquette says that you should pay, because you requested the meeting.
Have a start and stop time for your meeting.
Be early, allowing yourself time to be situated and so you can great the person when they arrive. Find a quiet spot in the coffee shop.
Find out some background on the person you are meeting, google their business, have specific questions, don’t say “tell me about yourself” rather say “ I read your blog on……….. or after listening to you at the ……………………… meeting I wanted to learn more about ………………………………..
Have a specific reason for meeting them.
Be interested in what the person has to say, take notes DO NOT interrupt. I like to have 2 columns one for me and the other from them, I also write the date, person’s name and business on the top of the page.
Keep your ears open for anything you can help with, don’t just say, “if there’s anything I can do let me know”, the best way is to have service mindset during this conversation and let her know that you would like to assist with………….or you could introduce her to someone with that skill set.
Do NOT read your texts, take phone calls during your conversation.
Offer to end the meeting on time, ask the person if they need to go even if you are in the middle of a great conversation, and if they have more time then great. Be someone who respects the time of others. Follow up either with an email or hand written note ( people love receiving handwritten notes so yours will stand out as it is rare). Deliver on any information you told them you would send them. Keep in touch via email, social media, share their tweets, comment on their blog (be interested).
Keep the first rule of networking in mind at all times and that is to build trust. Nurture your relationships and watch them thrive.
