By Jennifer Shaheen, The Technology Therapist®
As featured in Women & Biz magazine and WomensRadio.com

If you find this article helpful:

Someone who:

-Is open to giving information
-Remembers people
-Introduces business
-Asks questions
-Makes an effort
-Comfortable speaking to anyone
-Looks for new ways to connect people

Here are my secret weapons to being a power networker: Listening, Asking, Giving and Recording. 4 easy steps.

Listening:
We have all been taught to listen when someone else is speaking but listening with your ears is not what I am referring to. You need to listen with your business head; listen for keywords that will open up information for you and your new contact. Listen for people you know who may want to meet the person you are speaking with right now.

Asking:
If you are listening with your business head you will definitely have follow-up questions to ask. Asking a question shows you’re interested and open to building a relationship. If the person you are meeting or speaking with has not clarified what they clearly do or who they are trying to connect with – ASK.

Giving:
Information, ideas and business leads can be given when you just start growing a relationship. Frequently people feel obligated to give a lead or may feel that they don’t really know someone well enough to give a referral to a client. Why not offer an idea or information on where they can meet their target market? Maybe even recommend another networking event or association where there may be greater possibility for business connections.

Recording:
It is important to remember all the information you have taken the time to collect to ensure that this exchange of information is not forgotten – you need to record it. I recommend putting the information into one of the following places: Contact Management Software ( such as Outlook, ACT, Goldmine etc.)
PDA ( Personal Digital Assistant )
Palm Pilot, Pocket PC or Blackberry Device

Following these 4 steps will make you a networking expert!

There is only one disclaimer – you need to use what you’ve learned. Don’t make it a one time situation. The shampoo companies said it best: lather, rinse & repeat. Meet, follow the 4 steps & do it again - with the same people. You will find people open up sooner when you make an effort to reconnect.

Tim Sanders, Chief Solutions Officer for Yahoo says, "Be a lovekat...Offer your wisdom freely." Being a Love Kat means connecting people and ideas in the moment and reconnecting with the person later. Don’t put it off. You can’t be a Love Kat or a power networker without recording and carrying your information with you.

These 4 steps also work in reverse. Networking is a two-way street. So don’t forget to use these 4 steps to help you grow as well.

Listening:
When you speak to contacts, listen for industries and clients they have worked in that directly or indirectly relate to your business. Listen to how your networking contacts describe what you do to other people. This exercise will demonstrate to you if you are getting the right points across or if there is miscommunication in your company's services.

Asking:
Ask for introductions or a mini-meeting with the contact and their client together. If you don’t ask for business or ideas people may not volunteer any contacts or recommendations. Remember, it may just be that the person is new to networking, not truly understanding your needs or a fear that they may not have a connection that fits with you. When you ask questions you are helping knock down these barriers. Keep in mind that when you ask for anything you should come across open to all ideas.

Giving:
When you are looking for business referrals or ideas be sure to give examples of how your clients have benefited and the pains your company resolves. Give instances of other referrals you have received and how it helped the person referring you strengthen the relationship they had with their contact or client. Give examples of how you have reached the decision maker in a company and clearly expand on indirect connections. Many times we meet the person we need to by going through two or three degrees of separation. Give a thank you in anyway when you receive referrals.

Recording:
Keep track of who referred you to the new prospect or client. Record what association or events you met the person with whom you have developed a strong networking connection. Monitor what contacts have given you leads and how many of those leads resulted in business. Keep track of ideas people have given you in the notes to let them know if you checked into their suggestions.

Listening, asking, giving and recording are the four keys to being a power networker. Use these keys to develop new relationships and strengthen existing ones.

©The Technology Therapy Group, LLC
Jennifer Shaheen - The eMarketing and Technology Therapist

If you find this article helpful: