Stop going to networking events and instead focus on the relationships you already have.
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As all networking professionals always reiterate — and rightfully so — effective networking is all about building solid long-lasting relationships. However, successful businesspeople understand that networking is more about “farming” than it is about “hunting.”
Let me explain — meaningful networking is all about building long-lasting connections with other professionals. Relationship building involves harvesting deep networks strongly rooted in a connection that is developed over time with other people.
Among the most noteworthy forms of building connections, networking events have become the staple to recruit new prospects.
However, creating a relationship with a new prospect doesn’t just spring up full-grown; they must be nurtured. As the relationship grows, they must be fed by mutual trust and shared benefits.
Any successful relationship, whether a personal or a business relationship, is developed over time. While networking events are a great source of creating new connections – either in the form of introducing yourself, or collecting and giving out business cards – these tactics are deemed archaic and ineffective when conducted as a “hunting” tactic.
Imagine being a hunter-gatherer and hunting animals all day and leaving the animal carcasses left behind after you hunt. That’s what going to numerous networking events translates to in our generation.
The tactic of collecting and giving our business cards has no effect if it’s not paired with a more meaningful tactic of getting to know the person over time.
The time it takes to develop a relationship is highly variable – it depends on the frequency and quality of the contacts, and the desire of both parties to move the relationship forward.
The success of networking is not found by the quantity – but the quality. Relationships, like farming, must be cultivated.
When you have an effective and cultivated relationship with an individual in your network, you will start seeing a more meaningful (and more profitable) bond that will lead people to send you more referrals.
Next time you find another networking event on Facebook, ask yourself whether you need to do more hunting or cultivating. This self-analysis is critical to successful networking.
This post was written by Sam Mollaei, Esq., Business Lawyer for Entrepreneurs
Sam Mollaei, Esq. from Mollaei Law can be reached @ (818) 925-0002 or by visiting www.mollaeilaw.com
