Effortless Networking

Last year around this time, I wrote an article answering this question. Click here to read it.

As we begin another new year, I think it’s a good question to ask — and a good article to re-read.

I hope the information in it helps you to have an excellent year.

Happy New Year!
– Sri

Given the topic, let me get straight to the point!

When I want to get to the heart of a topic quickly, here’s what I do:

1. Identify for myself what the “heart” or the key issue is.

   For instance, sometimes I agree to talk with people, thinking we’re going to talk about one thing. Then when we start talking, I realize that the other person has a different agenda.

   So getting to the “heart” of the matter in this case is to simply understand what the point of the conversation is.

2. Ask one or two key questions, that’ll reveal the information I want.

   In cases like the example above, I might ask quite directly what the other person wants out of the conversation. Or why he or she wanted to talk with me.

   The answer to that one question quickly gets me to the heart of the matter.

If the situation is reversed and I initiate the conversation, I still follow the same 2 steps:

Why do I want to talk to this person?

And what can I ask that’ll quickly tell me whether he or she is interested in talking about whatever it is.

So what do you do?
– Sri

The end of the year is usually marked with many parties and social gatherings, which are excellent opportunities to reconnect with people.

So the timing seems appropriate to talk about how to “get back into the loop” if you’ve been out of touch for a while.

There are many kinds of “loops” and many ways to get back into it.

For instance, after I returned from maternity leave, I wanted to quickly get back into business.

In this case, getting back in the loop meant letting my clients, associates and others in the business community that I was “back at work” and accepting new clients, speaking engagements, etc.

I reconnected in several ways: I contacted clients individually to tell each one that I was back; I attended the Chapter meetings and events of all the organizations that I belonged to, so I could “be visible” as well as talk to individuals about being back at work; and so on.

As you can see, one size doesn’t fit all.

So here are 2 questions you should consider, when you’re wondering how best to get back into the loop:

1. What kind of “loop” is it?

   For instance, are you thinking of reconnecting with a small group of people with whom you used to regularly do business? Or do you want to make your presence “public” within an industry?

   It matters because your approach to reconnecting will be different based on how small or how large your “loop” is.

2. Why do you want to get back into the loop?

   For example, do you want to let people know that you’re re-launching your business with a new focus? Or that you’re looking for a job?

   This is important because this helps you be clear about the kinds of conversations you want to have. So when you do reconnect with people — in a group setting or individually — you can have useful conversations.

Based on how you answered these questions, you might decide to attend an industry-specific conference, send out a press release, attend regular business mixers, join a professional association, host a party or simply contact people individually.

Or you might decide to do all of the above.

In any case, you’ll be able to find the right approach for what you want to accomplish and get the most out of your efforts.

Try it out. See what happens.
– Sri

A few years ago, someone asked me whether it was OK to network if she was not “dressed up” for it.

For instance, she said, if I’m at the checkout line at a grocery store in my sweats and a networking opportunity arises, should I go for it?

I remembered this question recently because I found myself in a very similar situation.

I was at the local public library with my kids, and one of the staff members started chatting with me. She wanted to know what language I was speaking with the kids (I speak with them in Bengali), how many languages my son speaks (the answer is 3), where I was from, and so on.

From there we moved on to other topics.

On a whim, I decided to ask whether the library carried books by local authors. I had recently published my book, and I was curious. (By the way, I was dressed in sweats at the time!)

She said yes, they did. Could I drop off a copy for them to look at?

So the next time I was at the library, I gave them a copy. The library called me later that day saying they’d buy it.

A few weeks later, I was at the library (again in sweats) when the same staff member asked me whether I’d like to do a presentation. They could help me promote the book, she said. Was I interested?

Of course I was!

And all this happened while I was dressed like a harried mom, chasing after a toddler while clutching an infant.

So what’s the point of my story?

I have 3 points actually:

1. Networking opportunities show up all the time — be alert.
2. Have a sense of what an “opportunity” means for you, so you can recognize them and take advantage of them when they do show up.
3. You don’t have to be dressed in any particular way to network or take advantage of opportunities.

I hope this inspires you to “go for it”!

Till next week,
– Sri