Measuring: Critical to your networking planning is finding a way to measure how you’re doing. Which network events result in the greatest number of active contacts? What are my monthly networking expenses against new business generated directly from it? Which contacts do I spend most time with and are we deriving mutual benefit? Does local networking yield more useful contacts than travelling to events further afield? You may ask any number of questions like this to identify how your networking is ‘delivering’, or combine them to interrogate your results effectively. Over time, you will build up a picture of the events, places and people that are most useful to you now, and others that may become more useful later. Asking questions helps you get the ‘big picture’ of the path you are taking through your networking career, and crucially, how to take charge of planning it.
There’s nothing quite like preparation to smooth your way into an event. Many of the following pointers apply to travel anywhere, but never more so than to a network event where it’s imperative you arrive looking cool, calm and collected.
Do you really know where you’re going?
It’s likely that you will attend network events in places you don’t know, and saying ‘I’m sure I will find it okay’ won’t do if you are going to avoid getting lost. On the night before, identify your route on a paper or online map and locate the nearest bus stops, stations or car parks.
Time your travel to the minute
If you want to ensure that you arrive promptly before cliques start to form you must research how long it’s going to take you to get there. Does the event start during the morning or evening rush hour? You’ll need to factor in extra time for travel. Is there public transport or parking nearby? Some posh events may be held in places that are ‘traffic-free’. In such cases you may have to allow time for walking to a venue – possibly with a laptop bag and in new shoes.
Make a checklist and count items in
To save time and effort working out what you need every time you network, create a checklist (business cards, tablet, phone, charger etc.) and attach it to the inside of your bag to literally count those items in and out. Networking conversations can be scuppered before they even start if you’ve left one vital piece of cable or a charger at the office or the previous venue and you’ve no other way to show your products. Forgetting things looks horribly unprofessional and it’s stressful too – don’t put yourself through it.
Check the weather
Travelling from one end of the country to another to network in one day? Check what the weather will be like where you’re going and dress for that, not for where you’re leaving from. Temperatures north to south can differ wildly and you can look foolish if your clothing looks inappropriate for the weather outside. Invest in a compact brolly that can be stashed anywhere too – nothing looks worse than wet hair.
Don’t be above a dress rehearsal
If this event is really important to you, don’t be above doing a dress rehearsal – actually wearing the clothes you plan to wear, actually carrying the laptop bag for two hours, and actually walking from your hotel to the venue to check how long it takes you in new brogues. You may only have to do this a couple of times at the start of your networking ‘career’. But it can be time very well spent.
Key take-aways
Write down the things you will take away from Step 1 and how you will implement them.
| Topic | Take-away | Implementation |
| How to identify your existing network | • Who are the people that I already value, whether close to me or just acquaintances? | • Check my address book and Facebook friends. |
| How to rediscover your existing network | ||
| How to identify who your real allies are | ||
| Learn ways to gain confidence from your existing network | ||
| How to create new networks | ||
| The appropriate attitude for networking | ||
| Practical preparation for events | ||
| The contents of a business card | ||
| How to plan networking effectively | ||
| Tools that will help shape network planning | ||
| How to become physically prepared for networking events |
‘Let’s get real about this. Connection is what humans crave.’ — Stephen Fry, Actor, Author, Presenter and Social Media Enthusiast
Five ways to succeed
Check your network’s social media updates every day.
Keep your social media personal profile information up to date.
Maintain your online brand consistently and with integrity.
Customize all default social media invites.
Be mindful of social media law.
Five ways to fail
Prioritize social media over face to face interaction.
Use your personal Facebook page to do business networking.
Post anything, whether business-related or not.
Respond immediately to upsetting social media activity.
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