Personal Networking
Posted by the Networking Goddess in General, Networking Defined, Types of Networking
Email the link for this page to a friend!
Personal Networking
Much of what I have written about networking involves networking in a structured, business environment. If fact, those functions are specifically hosted for that purpose. But many, many important contacts are made on the golf course, over coffee, at day care, even in the grocery store.
And networking goals can be for personal achievements as well as business ones. Persons looking for a job, looking for a mate, trying to find creative funding, even looking for homes for stray dogs and cats have done so through the networking process.
I have found it helpful to have both personal and professional networking goals. For personal goals, instead of having a certain number of people in mind that I’d like to meet, I have a certain situation I’d like to satisfy. For instance, right now, I have a friend dying of cancer who runs an animal shelter. I’d like to find homes for his animals. I have been able to find interested people through networking.
Personal networking has less “rules” than business networking. If you tell someone about a movie you saw that you liked or a restaurant that you ate at that was good, you are networking. It is not important to dress appropriately, have a good 60 second commercial, or be concerned with qualifying questions. The exchange of information and resources, on a casual basis like this reaps rewards just as much as the structured environments we have discussed.
Certain things are true about both personal and professional networking. It is essential to get into a networking frame of mind. That frame of mind is simply the desire to help others as much as possible. Once that is the focus , the rest is easy. When someone mentions that they don’t like their current baby-sitter, your mind instantly starts thinking of anyone you know who might be able to help in that situation.
Personal networking starts by being friendly and approachable. It involves talking and listening, just like in professional networking, but it is much more relaxed. Personal networking is an excellent way to expand your circle of contacts, which invariably leads to more business contacts as well. Once that happens, networking has become a way of communicating- no longer a process that needs to be learned, but an avenue of effective communication.
Nancy
Your Networking Goddess
