Adopt these 10 traits, and you'll have people knocking down your door tryingto do business with you.Networking is more than just shaking hands and passing out business cards.Based on a survey I conducted of more than 2,000 people throughout the UnitedStates, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it's about building your"social capital." The highest-rated traits in the survey were the ones relatedto developing and maintaining good relationships. For years I've beenteaching people that this process is more about "farming" than it is about"hunting." It's about cultivating relationships with other business professionals.It's about realizing the capital that comes from building social relationships.The following traits were ranked in order of their perceived importance tonetworking. They're the traits that will make you a "master networker."A Master Networker... .1. Follows up on referrals. This was ranked as the No. 1 trait of successfulnetworkers. If you present an opportunity, whether it's a simple piece ofinformation, a special contact or a qualified business referral, to someone whoconsistently fails to follow up successfully, it's no secret that you'lleventually stop wasting your time with this person.2. Positive attitude. A consistently negative attitude makes people dislikebeing around you and drives away referrals; a positive attitude makes peoplewant to associate and cooperate with you. Positive business professionals arelike magnets. Others want to be around them and will send their friends,family and associates to them.3. Enthusiastic/ motivated. Think about the people you know. Who gets themost referrals? People who show the most motivation, right? It's been said thatthe best sales characteristic is enthusiasm. To be respected within ournetworks, we at least need to sell ourselves with enthusiasm. Once we've done aneffective job of selling ourselves, we'll be able to reap the reward of seeingour contacts sell us to others! That's motivation in and of itself!4. Trustworthy. When you refer one person to another, you're putting yourreputation on the line. You have to be able to trust your referral partner andbe trusted in return. Neither you nor anyone else will refer a contact orvaluable information to someone who can't be trusted to handle it well.5. Good listening skills. Our success as networkers depends on how well wecan listen and learn. The faster you and your networking partner learn whatyou need to know about each other, the faster you'll establish a valuablerelationship. Communicate well, and listen well.6. Networks always. Master networkers are never off duty. Networking is sonatural to them that they can be found networking in the grocery store line,at the doctor's office and while picking the kids up from school, as well asat the chamber mixers and networking meetings.7. Thanks people. Gratitude is sorely lacking in today's business world.Expressing gratitude to business associates and clients is just another buildingblock in the cultivation of relationships that will lead to increasedreferrals. People like to refer others to business professionals that go above andbeyond. Thanking others at every opportunity will help you stand out from thecrowd.8. Enjoys helping. Helping others can be done in a variety of ways, fromliterally showing up to help with an office move to clipping a helpful andinteresting article and mailing it to an associate or client. Master networkerskeep their eyes and ears open for opportunities to advance other people'sinterests whenever they can.9. Sincere. Insincerity is like a cake without frosting! You can offer thehelp, the thanks, the listening ear, but if you aren't sincerely interested inthe other person, they'll know it! Those who have developed successfulnetworking skills convey their sincerity at every turn. One of the best ways todevelop this trait is to give the individual with whom you're developing areferral relationship your undivided attention.10. Works their network. It's not "net-sit" or "net-eat", it's net-work, andmaster networkers don't let any opportunity to work their networks pass them by.They manage their contacts with contact management software, organize theire-mail address files and carry their referral partners' business cards aswell as their own. They set up appointments to get better acquainted with newcontacts so that they can learn as much about them as possible so that they cantruly become part of each other's networks.Real Sisters Rising
Love your article Sha...very inspiring and informative. Please let me know if you are still interested in getting more information or advice on joining a network marketing or direct sales company as a consultant. I can tell based on your attitude and ambition, you would be very successful in our profession. You have a lot to offer, our profession is in great need of women of color like you.
I am attending and speakig at the Direct Selling Women's Alliance this weekend in Las Vegas.
I speaking on the subject of Diversity in Network Marketing. My blog and my social network is dedicated to educating and celebrating women of color in network marketing. Please take a moment and visit it at www.MLMBlackwoman.com
I look forward to hearing from you soon, I would love to help you reach our goals in our industry.
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GinaRenay
AWE!D GRYL STITCHologist
I am attending and speakig at the Direct Selling Women's Alliance this weekend in Las Vegas.
I speaking on the subject of Diversity in Network Marketing. My blog and my social network is dedicated to educating and celebrating women of color in network marketing. Please take a moment and visit it at www.MLMBlackwoman.com
I look forward to hearing from you soon, I would love to help you reach our goals in our industry.
Much Success,
British Ford-Hill