When it comes to networking you often hear the same thing: “It’s a jungle out there.” For many sales professionals that’s the case, and if you’ve ever been to a networking event it might seem like a lot of work with no guarantee of satisfaction!
It doesn’t necessarily have to be this way. I have been asked for networking tips on several occasions, and I always maintain that you should start with yourself. Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you remember why each of your networking interactions were important?
- Did you often feel distracted, focusing more on who to talk to next?
- How do you know which interaction had the most potential?
If these questions hit close to home, Scott Gerber and Ryan Paugh’s Superconnector is essential reading. But here’s the thing- they don’t want you to network. They want you to connect with who you’re talking to. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, there are methods to improve how you’re speaking to others, asking them questions and exercising your generosity. By combining old school methods with cutting edge social media tactics, you’ll find yourself using more than business cards and LinkedIn connections to get the ball rolling.
Here is the summary from Amazon:
“Abandon the networking-for-networking's-sake mentality in favor of a more powerful and effective approach to creating and enhancing connections.
“STOP NETWORKING. Seriously, stop doing it. Now. It is time to ditch the old networking-for-networking's-sake mentality in favor of a more powerful and effective approach to creating and enhancing connections. In Superconnector, Scott Gerber and Ryan Paugh reveal a new category of professionals born out of the social media era: highly valuable community-builders who make things happen through their keen understanding and utilization of social capital. Superconnectors understand the power of relationship-building, problem-solve by connecting the dots at high levels, and purposefully cause different worlds and communities to interact with the intention of creating mutual value.
“How can you become a Superconnector? Gerber and Paugh share instructive anecdotes from a who's who roster of high achievers, revealing how to systematically manage a professional community and maximize its value. Of utmost importance is practicing Habitual Generosity, acting on the knowledge that your greatest returns come when you least expect them, and that by putting others' needs first the good karma will flow back to you tenfold. Gerber and Paugh also explore winning strategies such as The Art of Selectivity, a well-honed ability to define which relationships matter most for you and decide how you will maintain them over time. Full of helpful advice on how to communicate with anyone about anything, Google-proof your reputation, and much more, Superconnector is a must-read for those seeking personal and business success.”
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