Two SIMPLE Ways to Super-Charge Your Networking Right Now!

What do you imagine when you think about ‘networking’? 

I picture business suits, awkward handshakes, and weirdly stilted business card exchanges. I have been to plenty of these kinds of networking events, where they expect you to have a pat and fast 30 second pitch – and I have never once ‘nailed it’. 

Early in my business, and after a year or two of this stilted, bizarre kind of networking, I had convinced myself that I would never be good at it – that people would never ‘get me’, and I was basically doomed.

Until.

I realized that networking – even the bizarre, stilted, pitchy kind – is just a doorway to something FAR better and way more important: connection. Networking is magical NOT because of the weird meetings, but because of the conversations you get to have and the relationships you get to build with the people you meet through networking. 

Networking meetings – whether they’re weird or amazing, like the ones here in The Prosper Network – are a FIRST STEP to connection. They make meeting new people who either are or know the people you serve simpler, because they’ve all been collected into one place, together.

Networking only ‘works’ for a business if you take the SECOND STEP, which is connecting to people 1:1 after you meet them, as an actual human being who isn’t just wanting to talk to them about what THEY can do for YOU. Making sure that you ALWAYS take this second step is the first way to super-charge your networking.

And what’s the second way?

It’s a question, and it’s the ONLY question I ask every single time I meet someone new 1:1. 

‘What’s the best way for me to be helpful to you right now?’

This question, when asked openly, and honestly as a real, interested, and curious human being is EVERYTHING. Because when you show up and connect to real people as a real person, those other people will actually TELL YOU what they need and how you can help.

Will you always be able to help? Maybe not, but can you help them make a connection, or give them a little of your, or give a useful idea? Always.

Asking this question in every one-on-one connection session and then following through has changed my business in amazing ways. It’s created clients and friends. It’s allowed me to give people help they only realized in the moment that they needed, create connections between people that lead to collaboration, new businesses, friendships and more.

So for you, today?

 Try these two ideas about networking yourself.

I promise that your networking experience will never be the same. 

If you’re ready for some decidedly NOT weird networking, where asking for help is not only built in but welcomed come join me in the Prosper Network. The connections you’ll make will be life- and business-changing.

This blog was originally published on The Prosper Network blog. You can view that post here, and all of the other AMAZING articles here.