Day 30: 30 Days of Networking. The gratitude of gratitude. #30DNet

It’s Day 30 of 30 Days of Networking and I’m going to keep today’s post short and sweet.

Say thanks.

Easy enough? Maybe -  but I don’t feel we say thank you enough (or, at least I don’t say it as often as I think it and sometimes just don’t get around to it). I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t like to be thanked, acknowledged and recognised.

Day 29 - 30 Days of Networking: Remember me? Reconnect. #30DNet

Recently I was reminded of colleagues that I’ve lost track of. Somehow our lives went in different directions and I don’t know where some are, and haven’t thought of others for a long time.

Social networks (especially Facebook) make it easier to find some old contacts (work colleagues, people you met at functions), but others are going to need a bit more digging  - connecting the degrees of separation outside of the world of social media.

For me, it’s definitely time to regenerate some relationships that I’ve allowed to go dormant. I want to reconnect with people that I share interests and history with and whose friendship I value. I just have no idea where some of them are!

Today, in fact, I was reminded of my first mentor and how good he was at helping me network. I was then in my early 20s and very new to business networking. He’d take  me along to business meetings and functions and introduce me to influential people I’d not otherwise have met.

I’ve lost track of him. We shared great times, had shared interests and passions and enjoyed working together.

I actually have an extensive and GREAT network of people that I’ve been out of touch with simply because over the years  I moved city, country, job and allowed myself to lose touch or just got too lazy to stay in touch.

So, it’s time to go find a few people that I like and care about.

TODAY’S TASK

Think of someone you’ve been meaning to make contact with. It may be someone you need to find, or just someone who you keep meaning to call/write/email to but somehow never find time to.

Call them. Email them. Find them online.

Connect.

I hope it brings you joy and renews your relationship.

Me, I’m going looking too…  and I’ll let you know how I go.

Let me know how you go.

Suzi

Day 28 - 30 Days of Networking: Have a Brag!

One way to let people know what your doing is to brag. Yep, that’s right. Tell the world how great what you’re doing is.

Ok, before you run for cover… I’ll explain what I mean.

I know that ourtright bragging is looked down on in some cultures and even in Australia (well known for it’s Tall Poppy syndrome) patting yourself on the back in public is not encouraged or rewarded.

(Kudos to our American cousins who I think are fantastic at acknowledging themselves and the success of others… at least that’s what I found in the seven years I lived there.)

Bragging and Networking

A great way to let people know what you do is to tell them.  Telling others what you’re doing is a great way to network.

A positive way to acknowledge something you have achieved is to celebrate it (no, not in private, but with others).

Telling others what you do:

• shares information that allows others to know you better (Remember people like to do business with people they know, or feel they know.)
• lets the world know you’re taking action (which, hopefully inspires others to take action)
• could open up opportunities though connections with others
• lets others celebrate your successes with you (I’m no longer surprised by the reinforcement that sharing an achievement draws from others who are truly happy for me.)

Are you uncomfortable bragging?

I am not great at ‘tooting my own horn’, but I’m much better at it than I used to be. Whether for cultural (raised in a Greek household), gender (it’s not appropriate for girls to show off), or just plain shyness, I’m often been backward in coming forward about my achievements. Therapy has helped a lot ;-)… really! My coaches and mentors have helped me ‘get our of my shell’ and acknowledge myself more. (Though at times I STILL need a nudge!)

I KNOW I’m not alone in resisting bragging.  A survey conducted by the Australian Businesswomen’s Network and Gender Games author Candy Tymson showed that self-promotion was one of the biggest barriers to success for Australian women.

Today, let’s brag.

By bragging I mean, share something you’re proud of having done.

And, so we don’t confuse bragging with arrogance ;-)… here’s a definition of PRIDE:

a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated…

TODAY’S TASKS

Acknowledge, publicly, something you’re proud of.

Some ideas:

• Updated my to-do list.
• Called a friend I’d been meaning to talk to.
• Wrote an email to a customer.
• Walked the dog.
• Brainstormed my goals.
• Bragged!

It doesn’t have to be HUGE… The point is to affirm what it is that you are proud of having achieved.

What is your worst Red Tape experience?

Opposition launches campaign for nominations.

Small business owners are being urged to nominate the worst, most idiotic, piece of red tape they have experienced as part of a campaign launched this week by the Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turnbull, and Shadow Small Business Minister Steven Ciobo.

As part of its target to reduce red tape in Australia to the lowest level of all developed economies, the Coalition is on the hunt for the most diabolical piece of red tape nationally.

Mr Ciobo says that the last thing small business needs right now is “mindless, bureaucratic red tape”, when it is grappling with cash flow stress, industrial relations changes and the toughest lending conditions since the credit crisis of the early 1960s

herVoice commends the Coalition’s initiative and will be waiting impatiently for the announcement of the winning experience, but in the interests of balanced reporting has to ask – which party was it that implemented most of this current  “mindless, bureaucratic red tape” during its term in Government?

Enough said.

Click here to nominate your experience,  or tell us about it in your response to this post and we’ll include it in our submission.

Day 27 - 30 Days of Networking: What I’m reading may interest you. #30DNet

I’m a book lover. I consume books (many at the same time) both in print and audio books. My bedside table and bookshelves are full of yet-to-be-read books. It’s my little fetish and I don’t mind telling you. If Amazon had frequent-flyer points I’d be a Platinum member!

What may be surprising to you is that books have been a source of networking opportunities for me. I’ve connected with people (online and offline) through books, the reading of them and also by commenting about them openly.

When I was living in the US, friends and I would get together in person a couple of times a year and study a business book together. The core group would bring along others that we thought may be interested.  We’d read, debrief, share our points of view but mainly discuss the author’s point of view. I made good new friends and contacts this way.

A few yeas ago, the Australian Businesswomen’s Network held evening book studies for is members on Michael Gerber’s The E Myth and Jim Collins’ Good to Great.  While valuable these events were only available to those who could make it along on the night of the event. With the advent of social media and social networking (and because my ‘tribe’ is spread across the country), I have decided to host online book discussions on books that I think my clients (women in business) will enjoy. They start soon - and I’ll Tweet you when we launch.

Now… books and your network.

Education has been a connector for me and I find that I’m drawn to connect with others who share an interest in the same subjects. That’s in part what keeps me attending seminars and trainings all over the world. (Of course these events also provide face-to-face networking opportunities.)

Could you do the same with your clients? Could you instigate discussion about a book that is in line with your message or your business?

MY VERSION OF SPEED ‘READING’

Right now I’m re-listening to and re-reading Tim Ferris’s 4 Hour Work Week. Don’t think me a psycho but my weekend consisted of:

• Read a couple of chapters
• Jump in car to run errands and listen to a few chapters on iphone
• Back home and lunch in the sun while reading more chapters
• Walk the dog and listen to a few more more chapters

It sure helped me get through the book quickly - and, since I was rereading it, what I found was that I was hearing/reading things that I’d totally missed first time around. And, as you can see above, one of my tweets about the book was Retweeted. Andrea retweeting spread my message to her network.

TODAY’S TASK

Recommend a book to your followers/friends/contacts. Tweet the details of a book you’re reading that those that follow you may find of interest. Start a discussion. Remember to use #30DNet in your tweet.

Media Release: Networking with Men — Women learn to shine in male-dominated networking environments

Media Release:

If Men Are From Mars & Women are from Venus, How On Earth Do they Network?

Being successful in business requires women to be able to network equally effectively with men and women.

On 4 August the Australian Businesswomen’s Network presents “Networking with Men” a free national web-seminar that looks at why networking with men takes particular skills and why women need to master these skills to have Mars and Venus play nice on Earth!

Presenter Candy Tymson (author of Gender Games, Doing Business with the Opposite Sex) will address:

• Do men and women approach networking differently?
• Do the characteristics of a good networker go beyond gender?
• How do you network best with men (especially if you’re in a male-dominated industry or a woman looking to rise in the ranks of a business where the senior players are men?)
• How to decipher the success of the “MBA” - Male Business Acumen
• The three types of networks and how to use them
• Well-kept secrets on how to become guy-lingual in your communication, and sell your ideas
• What to talk about, how to follow-up
• How to approach a group of men with ease (and escape when the time comes!)

At the end of the presentation a Q&A session will allow women (who can attend from all corners of Australia using web-seminar technology to participate) to ask questions relevant to their individual circumstances.

“Networking is an important business skill and much as we’d like it to be different, women often find themselves in male-dominated environments feeling unwelcome and not sure how to network with men, especially men who are their seniors. That’s why we’ve put together, with the help of a gender-based communications specialist, a one-hour easy-to-access workshop that will give women proven strategies and confidence to make the most of networking situations.”

- Suzi Dafnis, Community Director, Australian Businesswomen’s Network

SPEAKER: Candy Tymson - Candy Tymson Communications

Candy Tymson has a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management & Coaching and is a Fellow of both the Public Relations & Marketing Institutes of Australia. She is the author of five books including Gender Games: Doing Business with the Opposite Sex and the director of Tymson Communication.

Event Details: Networking with Men

• Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2009
• Time: 10.30am - 11.30am AEST
• Price: Normally $39 — Free when you use Code: GUEST when booking.
• Place: From the comfort of your own home/office. Internet connection required.
• To register: www.abn.org.au/events or call 1300 720 120 (Bookings essential)

For more information or interviews: Suzi Dafnis, Community Director - Australian Businesswomen’s Network - 1300 720 120.

What is a webinar?

A webinar is a web-based seminar. To participate you will need high-speed internet and a USB headset (ideally with microphone).

About the Australian Businesswomen’s Network

The Australian Businesswomen’s Network provides online business education and mentoring for women across Australia and facilitates opportunities for them to network, learn and be inspired by role models and by each other.

Day 26 - 30 Days of Networking: Be an authority in your industry

Becoming known as an authority in your industry makes it easier for you to network. But, how do you establish credibility for what you know? It’s actually not as difficult as you would think.

Today we’re going to look at identifying what it is that you can be an expert at and a few ways to position yourself as an expert for the purpose of networking.

What are you great at?

I’m going to assume (and I do trust that I’m right about this), that you are an expert in something. And, by expert I mean that there is something that you know more about that a lot of people, a subject in which you have a good knowledge base.

You probably started your business/career because of a passion or skill that you have that you felt you could capitalise on.

Being an expert at something does not have to mean that you are an award-winner or that you are the best in the world at something. It means that you know more about something than a lot of others and that the sharing of your expertise can benefit others.

e.g. I am not the best networker in the world (not by a long-shot) but I know enough about networking (and how to do it effectively) that I can share my expertise with you in this 30 Days of Networking program.

Two ways to identify what you can be an expert at

Option 1: Your business is closely linked to your expertise

For some of us the area of expertise IS the same as the business we do. For example, it could be that you have an image consultancy and that your area of expertise is in exactly that - making people look terrific by helping them with their image. If this is you then start to position yourself as an expert in this area.

Option 2: Your expertise is your hidden asset

It could be that you are a florist but your skill is not only in terrific floral arrangements, but you have an accounting system that would be the envy of any small business. So, you could share your business skill with others and establish yourself as an expert in this area. (As a side-effect your business will be networked because you are behind the expertise.)

Once you’ve identified which Option from the above you want to do today’s task with take a look at some of these options.

In his book book “Little Black book of Connections” Jeffrey Gitomer names these ways of positioning yourself as part of a number of options in Chapter 5 of his book.

1. Get in print
2. Get published
3. Speak in public
4. Take an active role in an association
5. Use the internet to communicate value

I’d like to focus on point 2 - GET PUBLISHED

Two Ways to Publish your Expertise

Today it’s extremely easy to publish your expertise.  You no longer need to author a book and have a big publisher pick it up (the chances of this are slim to none for most people). Nor do you need to write thousands of words before you publish (which is great for those of us who hated writing assignments!) Today, social media and social networks make it easy-peasy to publish yourself.

In fact, Twitter is one of the easiest ways to publish your expertise. So, this is where we’ll start today.

A. Publish on Twitter

Use Twitter to disseminate gems of wisdom. Those interested in your area of expertise will find and follow you. ABN member Kate Tribe from Tribe Research (@katetribe) often shares her market research expertise through her tweets, sharing tips and resources that position her as an expert in small business market research. (See example below.)

B. Publish on the Web and in eNewsletters

If you have a blog then,of course, you can publish your expertise at your leisure. You can also be published on the web by submitting articles to websites that focus on your subject area (and which are not owned by competitors). For example, members of the Australian Businesswomen’s network are encouraged to submit articles to our website and our newsletters to build their profile. Many members have done business with readers and grown their network as a result of being published.

TODAY’s TASK

Publish some of your expertise via your tweets. You may choose to use words to indicate that you’re offering information about a particular subject. e.g. Going back to the image consultant example above, you could tweet: Image Tip: [tip goes here as well as optional link to your site]. Here’s a real example that I retweeted.

RT @katetribe: #surveytip Check & remove questions that ask about 2 things at once. U won’t know if the answer is for 1 or an avrge of both.

Be sure to use tag #30DNet so that we can follow your tweets!

And, if you’d like to submit and article for the Australian Businesswomen’s Network website or newsletters (and your expertise is in a business subject relevant to businesswomen) then email us for details on how to submit an article.

Day 25 - 30 Days of Networking: Weaving a network of contacts

You may have heard of the term ‘Netweaving’, coined by Bob Little from Atlanta. The concept is that all those ‘in the room’ are trying to make the right connections for each other, not just for themselves. Netweaving is about positioning yourself to help others connect and being a resource for others to create relationships.

Since August 2008 we’ve been putting this idea into practice at the Australian Businesswomen’s Network. Each quarter we bring together members who are in similar stages of business and introduce them to each other as part of an initiative called ‘herViews Member Advisory Groups‘.

Each member introduces themselves to each other and we discuss the business needs and issues of those in the room, looking to see if we (the ABN) can help them, but ALSO giving those in the room each the opportunity to be of help (through the products and services that they each provide) to each other.

The members who have attended these events have become our most loyal and participative customers as a result of the value they received from attending. And, they have been instrumental in the development of new, and improvement of products and services. Our investment into these customers and their business networking has been very worthwhile for all involved.

TODAY’s TASK

Can you create an opportunity for some of your clients/key contacts to meet each other for mutual benefit? Arrange an meeting (a lunch or small event is all you need) for key clients who may be in complementary industries. Let people know the purpose of the meeting and don’t be surprised if you have RSVPs flooding in.

This program is about taking action. I know that, once again, I’m inviting you to initiate a networking opportunity.  A few days ago I invited you to host a networking meet up. Today’s task is similar but it requires you to extend the opportunity from the point of view of YOU being the connector. Have fun with it. What goes around, definitely comes around.

Oh.. here’s a comment from one of our members who attended a herViews session:

“ I have been a member of the ABN for more than a year now. Being a member of the network has been a great tool for my business on a number of levels – education, information, networking, delivering a great service to my clients and growing my business!

Through using the various member benefits available, I have had two business opportunities and I continue to have ongoing work with these two businesses. This alone has delivered a healthy ROI on my first year investment of becoming a member of the network.

I have also utilised the network for other business objectives – one of which was to get some quality face-to-face time with a key speaker at an ABN event who was a key media contact for my business and my type of clients. After an introduction had been facilitated by the team, I spent some time with the high profile Editor and have since developed a relationship with him. This has lead to two of my clients receiving quality media coverage in the AFR. My clients, needless to say have been delighted with the result. Their satisfaction has lead to ongoing work and referrals.

So you see – the network delivers so many benefits to a growing business on a number of levels.  It is all there waiting for you to tap into as a member.”

Gemma Manning - Manning and Co

Day 24 - 30 Days of Networking: Business cards 2.0 - Is the business card dead? #30DNet

When was the last time you shared a printed business card in order to introduce yourself?

The printed business card is a dinosaur and, much as the printing industry may wish things were different, I figure I’ve probably printed my last batch of business cards, forever.

Why swap cards when you can swap Twitter handles?

In March I was attending a conference and printed up a new batch of business cards (complete with my twitter address) to take along. I think I handed out 2! The rest of the dozens of contacts I made, I made on Twitter.

(Twitter was used throughout the conference to allow audience members to journal/share the highlights from each of the workshops - and in turn those people whose posts interested me I followed and similarly, I got a swag of new followers who found what I posted interesting).

Within weeks of printing my new cards they were obsolete, as I changed my title to Community Director!

Old networking habits…

Last week I attended a meeting with a major Australian bank. Those in the meeting exchanged business cards, but it was almost pointless. All those in the meeting had previously exchanged emails and therefore had each other’s information electronically.

Business Card Swap - The 2.0 methods

Include Your Social Networks on Your Card

If you’re going to use a business card, then be sure to have it include the ’spaces’ you hang out at most. e.g If you no longer use a fax machine don’t include that info. If your blog is where you communicate most, then be sure to include your blog details on your business cards.

Make the Most of Virtual Business Cards

Maximise the effectiveness of your social network’s business-card style functions. e.g. Have you customised your Twitter background to include the contact details that you want people to have? Do you include the key contact information (website, office number) in your profiles on LinkedIn and Facebook?

This wasn’t going to be a ‘green’ message but honestly, do we really need to print paper business cards when a contact can send you their v-card from their phone to your phone, which you then synch to your computer, into your contacts. Voila… not a tree damaged in the process!

TODAY’S TASKS

Update your social network spaces to include the contact information you’re will to have followers/friends/contacts see and use.

And, next time you run out of printed business cards consider whether you really need to print more!

Day 23 - 30 Days of Networking: Network across the world #30DNet

My network extends beyond Australia, where I currently live, to the US, UK, Asia and Europe. In fact I’m sure my network includes people from all continents and (I wish I knew how many) dozens of countries.

Online networking (and especially Twitter and Facebook) have made connecting with people all over the world, so easy. And arranging to meet up while travelling is just a few keystokes away.

Next month I’m travelling to New York City and so a few days ago I tweeted that I was looking for some social media classes to take while I’m in the US.

@laroo (from Sydney) saw my tweet. She happens to be in NYC at the same time as me. So, we’re having a TweetUp!

A friend at US seminar company @learningannex noticed that I was coming to her home town and we’re meeting up while I’m there.

Where are you travelling to next? Is it into the city, interstate, or overseas?

Can you organise a meeting with one, two or more contacts while you’re there?

TODAY’S TASK

• Make a note of when you’re next travelling (far or near). Use the opportunity (even if it’s a trip to the city) to arrange a time to meet with a contact. A quick coffee can land you a better relationship, a new lead, a deeper understanding.
• Tweet and tell us about it. (Remember to use tag #30DNet.)

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