Richard Branson is one of the most famous
entrepreneurs not only in the UK but around the globe. His main skill is networking.
He found opportunities, secured the resources necessary and used them for his
success.
Erin
Portsmouth has got more than 10 years’ experience working in public relations
and communications. She is working for the NHS Trafford and is also chair of
the CIPR in the North West. Erin says that her entire career has been built up
on contacts. She joined the CIPR which is the biggest body of public relations
in the UK. She created her own network and had never really had to apply for a
job. Erin got recommended by other people and companies and business people got
in touch with her.
When
you network you need to make sure that it is never simply about getting what
you want. It is more about getting what you want and making sure that the
people who are important to you get what they want too. You should help people in
your network and always think of the long term effect. One day the other person
will do you a favour or could help you.
Another
important point of networking is that you should not just get in touch with
someone when you need something. It is necessary that you maintain your
relationship that you have developed.
"You
can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than
you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."
This is what Dale Carnegie has said. And it is true. You need to become
genuinely interested in other people.
Another
thing to increase is the efficiency of your networking is attending social
events and business fairs and other networking meetings. When you attend events
like that make sure you are prepared and you know what kind of people you may
meet. Your first impression counts. You need to make sure you are
self-confident. Show the other person your charisma.
Never
eat alone written by Keith Ferrazzi is a fantastic guide of how to network
and tells you other secrets to success. Keith Ferrazzi says in his book Never eat alone “identify the people in
your industries who always seem to be out in front, and use all the
relationship skills you've acquired to connect with them. Take them to lunch.
Read their newsletters. In fact, read everything you can. Online, there are
hundreds of individuals distilling information, analysing it, and making prognostications.
These armchair analysts are the eyes and ears of innovation. Now get online and
read, read, read. Subscribe to magazines, buy books and talk to the smartest
people you can find. Eventually, all this knowledge will build on itself, and
you'll start making connections others aren't.”
My
advice for you is to start collecting business cards and build your own
network. We are living in a fast changing world and you need to be the first
one out there and especially useful contacts will make a lot of things easier
and possible. So start today and look for social events that you could attend
and start building relationships. Maybe one day you have people like Richard
Branson in your address book and I guarantee that he has useful advices or can
be very helpful for you.
