| Welcome to 'Connecting is not Enough' |
|
Happy New Year. I hope you had an excellent break over the Festive Season and took some time out to recharge your batteries and hit the new year fresh and ready to move towards your goals.
On New Years Eve I found myself being asked why so many people were talking about the fact that it is a new decade and making such a big issue about it. Whether a new year or decade, such landmarks in the calendar allow us to take stock of what we have achieved in the previous period and refocus our efforts going forward. Where things have been going well we naturally want to build on our success, where we've struggled, it's an opportunity to draw a line and start moving forward.
Last year was very tough for many people. Whatever your experiences, take a couple of minutes to think about how well your networks helped you towards your goals and think of one or two things you can change to improve the return from your networking. Hopefully these newsletters will give you some ideas about changes you can make. Pick the ones that will make a big difference to you and choose to put them into action.
----------------------------------------------------
I have already set myself one big challenge for 2010 and started to put it into motion. I'm hoping to have my third book written by the spring and published soon afterwards.
I'm working with the excellent 'Book Midwife' Mindy Gibbins-Klein who has promised to make sure I remain focused, cover all bases and hit all my deadlines.
Watch this space.
----------------------------------------------------
Before Christmas I was approached by Ann Andrews of The Corporate Toolbox in New Zealand. Ann has put together a free e-book of predictions for 2010 from business experts around the World and asked me for my thoughts on the next steps for networking.
The article I wrote, The Road Ahead : Networking at the beginning of a new decade, is now available on my blog.
Ann's e-book, 300 BUSINESS PREDICTIONS FOR 2010, will be available shortly. Please drop me a line at andy@lopata.co.uk if you'd like a free copy and I'll pass your details on.
If you have received this in error and don't want to receive future editions, please use the unsubscribe link at the foot of the email and accept my apologies.
If you like what you read, please feel free to forward it and invite others to subscribe.
Happy Networking!
Andy
|
|
Listening for people
Networking Skill Tip |
One of the key skills when networking is the ability to take yourself out of the equation and listen for people. When we usually interact, we listen to each other, all of the time asking ourselves how the information we are receiving is relevant to us.
Instead, consider that the other person may be talking about something that is important to them, whether or not it is relevant to you. How could you help them? Who else in your network would be able to help or could be helped by this person?
In 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People', Stephen Covey encourages us to practice what he calls 'empathetic listening', or 'listening with intent to understand'. Master this and you'll find it much easier to build a strong network of people who want to support you.
|
|
Taking the long-term view
Networking Strategy Tip |
I've been delighted to see a growth of people and organisations talking about the need for an effective networking strategy over the last year. It's good that more people now recognise the importance of such an approach, but there is still a need for more long-term thinking.
Much of the 'networking strategy' currently being taught involves understanding why you are going to a particular event, who is going to be there and who you want to meet. There is certainly a need for this short-term approach, but preferable within longer-term thinking.
The danger of short-term strategies alone is that you expect measurable results from every event you attend. Setting a longer-term networking strategy, into which each event falls into place, allows you to see each interaction in a wider context and know when you are heading the right way....for a much bigger return.
|
Question time
Online Social Networking Tip
|
One way to engage with people you connect with online is to ask them questions publicly. If people are using social media to showcase their expertise, you can help them to do so.
Dale Carnegie once said 'people are interested in people who are interested in them'. Ask intelligent, probing questions about their subject matter to people you admire on sites like Twitter and LinkedIn. Show your interest in their subject and opinion and you will find it much easier to enter into conversation with them.
|
|
Getting started on LinkedIn
Video Tip |
A slight change for this issue's video clip.
Recently there has been more interest in how to use LinkedIn effectively than in almost any other subject I cover. Despite its growing popularity, most people still don't use LinkedIn to anywhere near its most effective potential.
I prepared this presentation for a workshop and it provides the four simple steps to getting started on LinkedIn. Many of these points have been discussed in the online social networking tips in this newsletter, but hopefully this will be a useful refresher for you.
A simple four-step guide to getting started on LinkedIn.
|
| Andy recommends... |
In the last newsletter I mentioned The Big Event, which I am compering in March this year.
Designed to provide both a networking and learning opportunity to over 200 businesses from Hertfordshire and surrounding areas, the organisers have put together a top-class list of speakers and workshops, all focused on key issues for businesses today.
I have worked with all the organisers of this event in the past and everything they have done has been first class, with fantastic feedback. Having also been involved in the selection of speakers, I am confident that this is an event worth taking the time to visit.
The early bird rate runs until January 16th, offering a 25% discount on the registration fee.
You can find out more about the speakers and book your place here.
|
|
The Anatomy of a Referral (part three)
The National Networker |
Over the last three months I have been writing a series in The National Networker looking at The Anatomy of a Referral.
In the final part of the series, I look at educating the people who might refer you and tracking the results of your referral marketing efforts.
Don't forget, if you like this article, you can receive a range of networking articles from across the US and globally every week through a free subscription to The National Networker. You can sign up here.
|
| Just for Fun |
Just before the Christmas break I, like many other poor souls, was a victim of the dreaded 'Man Flu'. A very serious, but much misundersood, ailment. There is now support.
For women who can't quite grasp the severity of this problem, this new resource will help you provide the support and understanding needed at difficult times.
Thanks to Sara Cuthbert of Currencies Direct for sending this through to me in my hour of need! | |
|
I hope you've enjoyed the newsletter and look forward to your feedback.
If you're serious about developing a networking and referrals strategy that can take your business to a new level, or you are interested in booking me for a speech or training session for your team, you can contact me on:
Tel: 07930 417833
Skype: andylopata
I look forward to hearing from you.
Andy
� All material copyright H & A Lopata ltd 2009. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
Are you a professional services firm with more than 5 employees?
Are you getting the results from your networking that you'd like?
Are you getting a steady flow of introductions from other professional services firms?
|
We are launching a limited number of Professional Services Networking and Referral Strategy Groups.
Each group of fifteen will comprise five professionals from three firms in
non-competing but complementary business fields.
The overall objective is to substantially increase each firm's return on investment from networking both in general and by building on the synergy with each other.
For more information and to discuss this further please contact Harvey Lopata on 01992 450488 or email harvey@lopata.co.uk
|
| Connecting...Live! |
|
8th January
"An Introduction to Networking" Workshop
Currencies Direct ltd
Internal event
13th January
7.30am-9.30am
"Riding the Recovery Wave, Networking in the Upturn"
Olympic Connections Breakfast
Ablestoke Consulting
Clerkenwell House
67 Clerkenwell Road
London
EC1R 5BL
15th January
"Leveraging the power of your network"
Academy for Chief Executives Internal event
|
In other people's words:
|
"I have
known Andy for some years and admired his creativity and abilities as an
entrepreneur focusing on networking.
I have also seen him grow to be a highly
competent professional speaker.
Follow this man he will always add value."
Brian Chernett Founder and
Executive Chairman
The Academy for Chief Executives
"I worked with Andy whilst at Make Your Mark.
He's
someone who can practice the human side of business, and not only understand
the importance of creating good relationships, but also maintaining them.
Andy
is passionate about supporting people moving into the world of entrepreneurship
and business."
Oli
Watts
Former
Network of Networks Manager, Make Your Mark Campaign
|
|
|
