Patra Frame, founder of Strategies for Human Resources, reminds us that executives often do not make the time to maintain or grow their networks, despite considerable evidence that shows the people who are effective, consistent networkers are more successful. She guarantees that scheduling some time each week to manage your network will pay big dividends for your own and your business’s success.
Her advice dovetails nicely with that of Buzzy Gordon, in a posting on About.com Entrepreneurs titled “Effective Networking for Busy People.”
He says that the average person knows about 250 people. And each of those people knows, in turn, another 250 or so people. This means that for each new person you meet, you gain access to a potential pool of 62,500 people separated from you by just two degrees.
Imagine the odds, then, Gordon says, that out of so many people, you would NOT find at least one person who would be a source of information about a better job, additional clients or customers, a speaking engagement or writing assignment, an investment opportunity, and much more.
It takes only a moment’s conscious decision to become a networker, he says. All it requires is a slight shift in attitude, and adopting one simple rule:
Greet each new acquaintance with an openness to learn more about that person, a willingness to help, and an offer to stay in touch.
This approach is equally applicable to every form of networking, whether in business or social contexts, and whether the encounter takes place in person or online. For more, go here.