“The #1 biggest mistake people make when networking is the Hard Sell”
Today a question came up in Susan Hanshaw’s career and transition workshop presented to the Marin Professionals Association in San Rafael, California. It was one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind:
“What’s the best way to network?”
Before we examine the best method(s) to network and how to define networking, let’s identify the #1 biggest mistake people make when networking: The Hard Sell
Networking is not:
- Selling yourself, your products, or your services
- Not "puking" your 15-30 second elevator pitch all over your listener
- “Working the Room” to gather as many business cards as possible in one session
- Soliciting advice from people you yet to know
- Begging for introductions to other people
- Turning off your ears and listening skills
- Monopolizing everyone’s time with your sales pitch
- Ignoring the networking organization’s message, niche, and membership
- Ignoring your homework to find out who you wish to meet at the meeting you plan to attend
- Asking for value before offering value yourself
Stay tuned next week when I define networking and identify the #1 Best Method to Networking.
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