How to Network: A Simple Guide

Networking is one of the biggest assets to have as a skill set in the business world, or just to get ahead in life. It can help with career advancements, collaborations, mentorship, getting hook-ups, and more. You can learn more from a previous article you can find here titled Top 11 Benefits of Networking
There’s unfortunately a fear that comes with networking. Some have fear and anxiety to approach or converse with strangers, some are intimidated or have uncertainty in networking environments, but majority of these obstacles can be overcome once you know how to network properly
Networking Rules of thumb
Be intriguing
Standing out from the crowd is very important when competing for attention with most people. You don’t need to a be a superstar or in-your-face with everything, but you need to be intrigued enough that the person you are talking to is at least curious in what it is you do or have to offer.
People’s favorite topic is themselves
It’s more important to focus on being interested than being interesting. As much as being intriguing to grab attention is important, even more important is being interested in the other person. Most people start talking about themselves when approaching and sell their ideas, products, services, etc, but what they don’t realize, is people’s favorite subject is actually themselves. An easy way to standout is simply ask questions about the person your talking to and be genuinely interested in them. The person you are networking with will remember how you made them feel more so that what you actually said.
F. O. R. M
Family, occupation, recreation, money
This is a simple guideline that is used to build a lot of rapport very quickly. The reason it’s very effective is because it’s a great guideline to break the ice if you are unsure where to start, and learn about a person on multiple dimensions. The goal should always be to try to find some common ground to connect on and build a relationship from there.
Family : learning about the person’s family.
The goal is to find out about the person’s loved ones on a more personal level rather than a superficial business conversation.
Example questions:
Do you live here with your family?
How many kids do you have?
Do you have family back home?
Do your parents also work in the same industry?
Do your kids also work in the same feild?
Occupation : learning about the person’s work, business, or what they are studying.
The goal is to find out what this person does for a living and other types of work they might be spending time in. Most people start with this category to kick start a conversation.
Example questions:
What do you do for work?
Do you do this full time?
Do you do anything alongside this?
Are you studying anything?
What’s your favorite part about what you do?
How did you get into this field?
Recreation :learning about what the person does for fun; hobbies, passions, favorite shows or movies, etc.
The goal is to avoid purely business and work conversations as people may not always love talking about their job all the time, and would rather share what they do for enjoyment.
Example questions:
What do you do for fun?
Do you play any sports?
Have you seen / Do you watch _____?
Have you ever been traveling to ______?
What’s one thing you have always wanted to do before you kick the bucket?
Money: Even though it may seem directly financial, I like to use money to learn about the person’s overall goals. What they are working towards not just financially, but also in life and in aspects of their life that they value.
The goal is to learn about what the person is working towards and what really matters to them. Always try to avoid intrusive questions like “how much do you make?” , at least not in the early stages of developing a new relationship.
Example questions:
Do you have any goals you are working towards right now?
What are your biggest goals for your career?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Are you planning on staying in this field?
What would you do if money wasn’t an issue?
Would you say you have a passion?
This is not a strict procedure to follow, but it’s more so a guideline or checklist to help you build rapport and connect with the person as quickly as
Be Genuine
Nothing is worse than a person that is giving off a fake smile and acting to be interested. Human beings are wired to pick it up subconsciously. You have to stay genuine in what you say and ask. There’s no point in faking interest or forcing a smile as It will do more harm than good. People want to connect with others that are real, and truthfully, it’s a lot more effortless to be genuine than conscientiously trying to please the other person with a mask.
Make a friend not a sale
In 2020, the way to sell is by making a friendship. You sell more by selling less. The successful networker puts relationships first and then what they can do to monetize second.
This is a great way to distinguish yourself and be memorable especially in an event, as most people are going in to give their business card as quickly and efficiently as possible and move on to the next victim. Sometimes they are even looking over your shoulder mid conversation to see who’s walking by and it shows a clear indication of disinterest in a real connection. Focusing on making a friend first will yield more in the long run.
Find a way to help/ Add value
Instead of constantly looking to see what you can benefit from others, keep a near out of ways you can benefit them. Supporting their brand, referrals, connections, or even just providing information that they may benefit from, you will find that constantly adding value and giving may not always yield a return, but it always comes back one way or another. People like you more and genuinely want to help you when they see that you added value for something that’s important to them. It shows that you care and aren’t treating them as a number, but rather, as an individual.
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Pierre Ramzy