Top networkers show up, smile and follow up

There’s a famous adage that 80 per cent of success is showing up. But if you apply that to networking, what’s the final 20 per cent?

Well, first of all, it’s showing up with a smile. Networking is about meeting people who can help you and who you can help, so a positive attitude is a great start.

And when you remember these people are all in the same boat as you – usually aspirational businesspeople with similar kinds of hopes and dreams – in a world of challenges, it’s good to talk!

So start with a smile. Then, show an interest.

Networking is not about selling, it’s about forming relationships that can lead to sales. But you need the relationship before you’ll get the sale.

It’s very difficult to form a relationship with someone if you only ever talk about yourself. Showing a genuine interest is the winner’s way for forging those relationships.

A great way to build a relationship is to keep the focus on how you might help them, rather than how they can help you.

A good deed is the best way to see the same returned in kind, taking your relationship to the next level.

Finally, a relationship is not a one night stand. If you were a single person looking for love, you would get very frustrated if you only ever saw the person you wanted to form a relationship with in the same crowded pub week after week.

You’d want to take it to the next step – by going on a date – to get to know them even better.

So, when you meet someone you think you could work with, while networking, don’t just hand them your card and leave it at that.

Follow-up and ask them out – for a 1-2-1 and a coffee. You never know
where it might lead.