Networking for Dummies – The Right Mindset + What Energy Are You Bringing?

If we show up thinking only about whether we can get our next client, we’ll put out a repelling energy. It can act like a forcefield and literally repel the people around us – Believe me, I’ve experienced it myself.

It’s because when we’re desperate for a client, that shows. Desperate energy is not attractive my friend.

On the other hand, if we’re there to connect and give, it completely switches the energy and people can be magnetically drawn to us.

There’s a deeper issue at play here… If we ARE desperate for a client, it’s very hard to show up any other way. That’s why I often recommend building our businesses up as a side hustle first, to avoid ever being in that ‘desperate for a client’ energy in the first place.

When networking for dummies it’s important to have the right intentions and put out the right energy.

Your Captivating Introduction (AKAThe Elevator Speech)

The ‘elevator speech’ as it’s known in the business world can sound pretty ‘cringe worthy’ if we’re not careful. Being asked to stand up in front of a group and say what we do can feel daunting (luckily there are many networking groups which actually forgo this torture today).

However I found a great re-frame for the elevator speech from a mentor of mine, Catherine Watkin. Not only for the speech itself but also for the name of it. She calls it a ‘Captivating Introduction’.

Isn’t that better?

For one thing it shouldn’t be a ‘speech’ but ideally should be part of an ongoing conversation we’re having with a potential client or JV partner. For another it should be all about our ideal client and how we can help them, NOT about us and our services (yawn, who cares!!)

People are in it for ‘what can I get’. So they want to know quickly whether we can help them. This is where knowing our ideal client inside out becomes important, because when we know that, we can speak directly to their deepest pains and also their biggest desires.

Another thing, it shouldn’t be boring. We mustn’t just list our services (more yawning), rather we can talk in a conversational tone about the problems we solve for our clients.

What differentiates our service from all the rest. It’s not what we do but WHY and HOW we do it. It’s how we help.

For example, my current captivating introduction is this:

“I help female entrepreneurs to attract all the ideal clients they need using a combination of a proven step-by-step formula, with activating their feminine super powers to magnetise their ideal clients.”

When I was an OBM it was this:

“You know the techy stuff which makes you tear your hair and want to throw your laptop out the window?

I love that stuff.

I’m an Online Business Manager, and my clients call me their ‘right hand woman’.

I excel at setting up sales funnels including working with you on the content, helping you plan and execute your launch, supporting you with your online business strategy and dealing with all the ‘behind the scenes stuff’.

So that you’re freed up to spend your time doing what you love – serving your clients & delivering your service. Together we create more time and money in your business.”

See how that’s totally different from ‘I’m an Online Business Manager. We do marketing, funnels and WordPress sites”.

If I’m in conversation with a person or group, then I will break it up into smaller chunks and share it naturally as part of the ongoing conversation.

Here’s another example:

Imagine the scene: You’re at a networking meeting and each person around the table has been asked to stand up, introduce themselves and say what they do.

It’s your turn. Instead of saying. “Hi. I’m Katy and I’m a VA”

you say

“I’m Katy. I help solopreneurs and small businesses who are ready to grow. I take care of the ‘behind the scenes’ daily tasks, freeing you up to focus on client delivery, and money making activities. This frees up time, gets your business organised, reduces stress and increases profits.”

Notice how the second one is all about the potential client and the BENEFITS to them. It’s not about you and your service, it’s about what they will get. This is what people want and will encourage them to come and talk to you!

If you’re in a one to one conversation then break it down into bite sized chunks and leave space for them to respond and ask questions 🙂

(How to Suck at Networking – This IS Networking for Dummies

Be selfish, only think about ourselves and what we can get. Don’t choose a regular meeting, don’t show up with consistency. Rather flit between meetings, eat all the free food, but don’t commit to attending one or two regularly. Stand in the corner, enjoying said free food, and don’t talk to anyone!)

How to Be Great at Networking (and Not Be a Dummy)!

Be organised. As with anything in our businesses we need to make sure we’re approaching this consciously and strategically, rather than just wasting time.

Take the time to plan: We start with researching the groups that we’d like to attend. Look at when and where they meet. Then plan out when we’d like to attend.

We consider how we’d like to show up in the group, and make sure we have our captivating introduction ready.

Set an intention for the group: What would be the ideal outcome from attending this meeting? It could be to meet a new client. Once we’ve set our intention we let it go completely. Now open our mind to other possibilities.

When we attend be sure to consider what we can bring to the group. How can we support the other members and contribute? Even if it’s just friendly conversation at the beginning, that’s fine. Just be sure to always be on the lookout for ways to support others. Perhaps we will know a client or JV partner you could recommend to them.

Then just aim to breath, relax if we can and see whether we can begin to enjoy ourselves.

I find that if I set my intention before the meeting, then I let it go, when I’m there I switch the focus to being present, connecting with people, being part of the conversation and bringing my best energy. These are the thoughts dominating my mind, NOT ‘will I get a client’ or worse ‘I must get a client’ which just puts a ton of pressure on.

When we drop the agenda we find that we relax and connect with people more easily. Then the conversation (and often the business deals) flow naturally.

Networking for Dummies – Should I Take Business Cards?

The short answer is YES.

I’m not actually a big fan of business cards, generally finding them rather unnecessary, however for networking meetings they’re good. I’ve been in the situation where we’ve done an exercise which involves exchanging business cards, and I’ve been the only one in the room without them! I felt really unprofessional.

Just don’t fall into the trap of thinking that ‘distributing business cards’ is the same as connecting with people and actually networking with people. Business cards don’t get you business. Connecting does.

Business cards a merely an aid to help make it easier for a potential client or JV partner to contact you and stay top of mind, once you’ve already sparked their interest using what I’m sharing in this article.

Consistency Builds Trust

Just by physically showing up to the same meeting a number of times, people will begin to trust us. Then, when they need the service we provide, or know of someone who does, they’re much more likely to come to us than go to some stranger who they’ve never met.

As with everything in our business, networking will bring the best results when done consistently.

Listening When Networking