Five Steps to Fruitful Networking: Part I

Recently, a young banker shared with me that he was hired to get involved in the community and network. But he wasn’t sure how.

Although others are far better at networking, than I am, I thought this series might be helpful.

The first step to remember in networking is Be Targeted. There are many networking groups and opportunities that can be a waste of time.

My best customers in banking were CFOs and controllers. As a former CPA, I joined an association for accounting professionals. This group helped me target the best prospects and resulted in some great new accounts. Proverbs 12:26 teaches, “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

Networking may sound transactional and feel uncomfortable at first. Seeking out relationships for the purpose of getting clients or partners is not a common experience. However, networking is a potent tool to assist in business development. The more relationships you build the bigger community you create, and, after all, business is enhanced through a bigger network.

That being said, not all relationships are created equal. To be fruitful with your networking time, choose your groups and friends wisely.

Questions For Reflection

• Do you struggle with networking effectively? How could you make the experience more positive? What could you do to make others feel more open to connect with you?
• How do you distinguish a productive relationship from a distraction? What do you need to succeed in building business community? How can you help others succeed?