When most people think of networking, they think of business networking. But power networking can be used for much more than just business. You can use it to learn what’s new and hot in your industry. By connecting with other people, you can learn new skills and information that helps your business. If you’re a creative person, there’s a great deal you can learn from others in your field. Non-profits can use power networking to spread awareness or seek funding. Activists network to make changes in their communities or society at large.
Many people use networking to achieve personal goals or simply to make new friends. Whatever passion you have in life can be augmented through building a network of like-minded people. With a network, you can accomplish more of whatever it is you do in life. Power networking is based on two fundamental concepts – abundance and reciprocity. Abundance means that there is plenty of everything to go around. When you have a good contact or a helpful skill, you don’t keep it to yourself. You hook other people up, they hook you up, and there’s no sense of competition. This is BEYOND hard to do…..you will feel the urge to sell-sell-sell….or get something for yourself. Resist!
Reciprocity is a fancy word for a simple concept – when you do something good for others, it comes back to you many times over. You help others with no expectations or obligations and their natural response is to help you back. This is the ‘power’ of power networking.
The foundation of power networking is the idea that you are a resource for others.
Of course you expect some benefits from building your network, but this shouldn’t be your sole focus. Instead, you are a resource that others in your network can use. When you pay it forward in this way, helping others solve their problems with your knowledge and expertise, they’ll be more inclined to help you.
Long before you expect anything out of the people you meet, you simply need to get to know them. There is no short-term gain in power networking. Everything is done for the long-term benefits. First, you build trust, rapport, and good communication with the contacts you meet. It takes time to earn this trust and build this rapport, so you don’t start asking for favors immediately.
A major benefit of networking is referrals.
This means connecting people within your network who have the skills or knowledge that others need. It’s one of the best things you can do for another person. Likewise, people in your network will introduce you to other people you can help or who can help you. In this way, a network grows exponentially.
Watch for the next section in this series where you will learn the KEY to networking!
