How to Network Your Way to SuccessWritten by Lorraine Pirihi
Successful people do not achieve success on their own, they surround themselves with a well-developed, sophisticated support network. In a world that grows more complex and more competitive each day, networking is necessary not only for survival but for high achievement"…excerpt from best-selling book "Masters of Networking".Observing many people when I'm out and about attending various business related functions, I'm convinced that so many of them do not realize how powerful it is to make effort to meet others and network. Networking is great for business ... if you do it right and have a system in place to follow up. Secret No. 1 The successful networker always carries their business cards with them. They have stacks of cards in their diary, purse, wallet, all bags…briefcases, laptop, handbag, car and office. Before they step outside front door in morning, they check they have their business cards. They know their card is a crucial promotional tool and ensure that information on it clearly says what they do, has all their contact details and design is attractive. The super successful networker likes to stand out from crowd and will have a card that stands out too. Often they'll have a photo of themselves on it and information on back stating what they specialize in. Secret No. 2 When you meet superstar networker they will ask you questions about yourself and your business and they will genuinely LISTEN TO YOU. They will focus their attention on you and maintain eye contact. They will ask you for your business card and offer you one of theirs. Secret No. 3 The successful networker will write on back of your business card where they met you and a couple of key points about you, so they remember who you are. They may do that immediately afterwards or later that day. Secret No. 4 The superstar networker may provide you with a contact to help you and will expect nothing in return as they know what goes around comes around. Secret No. 5 The successful networker will have a follow-up system. They will enter details of relevant contacts they have made into their database and communicate with those people within a couple of days. They'll ring or send an email , card or letter saying it was great to meet you, include information of goods/services they offer which may benefit you. If they sent you information they'll FOLLOW-UP usually by phone a couple of days later.
| | 7 Strategies for Handling Last Minute MeetingsWritten by Susan Friedmann
Have you ever found yourself having to scramble to organize a meeting at last minute? Wouldn’t it be nice that if and when this daunting situation arose, you were well prepared with all necessary information ready at your fingertips? That’s why I’ve developed following seven survival strategies to help you plan for inevitable, because you know as well as I, it’s going to happen ‘someaday.’ Survival Strategy #1. Question meeting need. Before you jump into automatic pilot to start your last minute meeting organization, challenge request. Since deciding to hold a meeting demands serious consideration because of costs involved, both direct and indirect, double-check rationale for holding meeting. Develop a few pertinent questions to ask and find out if a meeting alternative, such as a teleconference would achieve same results. Survival Strategy #2. Know basics. If meeting really needs to happen, make sure that you plan for basics: · What is purpose of meeting? · Where should it take place – on or off-site? · When is it scheduled for – date and time? · What’s meeting agenda? · Who needs to be invited? · What refreshments and snacks are needed? · What specific materials and equipment is needed? · What travel and hotel arrangements, if any, are necessary? · What’s meeting budget? When it comes to budget, remind your boss that good quality, last minute buying and cheap don’t usually correlate. The reality is that last minute pricing may well come at a premium. Survival Strategy #3. Develop checklists. Checklists should be every meeting planners guardian angel. They’re there to help out in time of trouble and avoid unnecessary panic. With hundreds of pieces that make up meeting puzzle, only way to put them together and keep tabs on all details is with a checklist. Become a checklist fanatic and consider having a checklist for each checklist. Cover all your bases. The more thorough you are, greater probability of success, even at last minute.
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