Networking Reminder: How To Be Memorable When Networking
Timeless and timely networking advice from the Pro-Tip archive.
Pulling this networking pro-tip out of the archives, as it seems a timely time for a little reminder on who, how and where you're focusing your relationship building energies.
√ Are you wondering how to be memorable when networking?
√ And who to focus your precious limited networking time on?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, you're not alone. Let's admit it, we feel time depraved, and a desirous anxiety to excel and to be welcomed.
This quote pulled from the New York Business Journal nicely sums up my attitude on the two questions above, rather perfectly:
"...People think a title is what matters and that’s how they decide who gets their time, but that’s social climbing and opportunistic — not great qualities in any person — and short-sighted if we’re speaking in the opportunistic sense. In other words, one day, the young intern you are ignoring — just so you can get “face-time” with the big boss — is going to be a big boss themselves. When that happens and you cross paths again, they will remember how you made them feel, so do not underestimate anyone or undervalue their worth no matter their title..." - Meriam Nazih Al-Rashid, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
So instead of wondering how and who in the old schmoozing, transactional, it's all about ME networking way, if you're aim is to be memorable, you should instead be thinking about:
- How you make everyone you come into contact with feel, every single day of the week.
- Focusing your networking efforts on values (i.e. empathy, trustworthiness, honesty, decency) not titles.
- Stepping into each networking opportunity with respect. Respect for someone's time, for their experience, for their career connections....for the fact that they are willing to share any of these personal assets with you.
And one more suggestion...
Before you rush out to build the network you think you need, discover the one you already have. Download Chapter 2 of my forthcoming book, The Social Billionaire and complete the network audit so you thoroughly understand who and where gets your networking attention.