The key to building relationships? Give more!
Clients are always asking me, “What’s the best way to ramp up business or become a more strategic networker?” The answer is simple: give more!
Give more of what? Give your time, share your passions with people and genuinely open the door to your networks so that others may benefit from what you already have. The world’s greatest connectors and networkers, (or whatever name you want to call them) are consistently putting the needs of others first, but not to the detriment of their own well-being. You see, finding that balance is an art, but the truth is that anyone can learn it. All you have to do is practice giving.
What separates exceptional networkers and business people from the average is their mentality. There’s an old saying, “The more you give, the more you get.” While I believe this to be absolutely true, I also believe that the more you give, the more opportunities you’ll have to continue sharing your gifts and passions with the world and this is the mindset that exceptionally successful connectors live by.
Effective giving happens in many ways. We often think of giving in a monetary fashion. However, lending a hand can happen by simply taking stock of what you already have, of what you already know, of who you already interact with on a regular basis and asking yourself, “who might benefit from all the value in my life, and how can I go out into the world and share that to improve the life of someone else?”
Tomorrow, begin practicing the art of giving. Here are three ways to help jump start you into action:
1. Share the parking lot: Instead of telling yourself that you’re going to get the best parking space at the grocery store, consciously choose to park in the back and leave the coveted closer spaces open for others. Not only is this an easy way to practice proactive giving, but it will also eliminate the possibility of parking lot rage. You never know who you’re going to meet or reconnect with and enabling yourself to feel calm and confident puts you in a space to create connections with people who might just be your next client, friend or referral source!
2. Be a human rolodex: The next time you’re talking to a friend, co-worker, family member etc. and they express dissatisfaction in one area of their life, start flipping through your mental Rolodex (remember those?) and ask yourself, “Who do I know that can help with this problem? Who do I know who has done whatever they’re looking to do/find etc.? Who do I know that I need to connect them with?”
3. See people first: The most successful people continue to give even after their needs have been met because the true value of giving is in the ability to share one’s resources in a more meaningful way. In his book, The Tipping Point, best-selling author and speaker Malcolm Gladwell describes connectors as, “people with a truly extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances.” They think in nodes, not individuals, and like nothing more than to help you. They see people first, then money. Challenge yourself to include, “how can I help you right now?” in every conversation you have and you’ll be one step closer to living a life as a connected giver.
What fuels meaningful connections and acts as the foundation of strong networks are ways for individuals to offer something to others on a consistent basis. If you think about it, most people that operate on the premise of, what can I give and what can I offer, are also the people who seemingly have endless opportunities knocking at their door. They are also the people who are typically told that they have, “amazing luck”. It's not good luck that helps these individuals stand out from the rest; it's that they are acting from a place of selflessness. When you start giving for the sake of giving, the world will conspire in your favor.
* Looking to sharpen your networking skills? Join: #inspired5280 Meetup! *
#inspired5280 MeetUp is a place to practice networking, and try on new skills so that you can get exactly what you want and need in order to be successful both professionally and personally!
As a professional networking coach Alyce loves to ask, “why do you do what you do?” and inspires her clients into action every day. She works with people in various ways, whether it’s 1:1, in small groups, in a facilitated workshop or as a speaker. Connect with Alyce at www.alyceblum.com and follow her on facebook, instagram and twitter with: #inspired5280.