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Now that some of the dust has settled over FIFA's decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia instead of England, we can look beyond the allegations of corruption and accusations against the British media and perhaps consider the quality of our own campaign.
A comment in the independent football fanzine When Saturday Comes caught my eye. "Since Sir Stanley Rous was voted out as President in 1974 (the English) have played only minor roles in the running of the organisation; frantic networking at the 11th hour was no substitute for steadily building a support base over time."
Carole Stone, former producer of Any Questions and Women's Hour on BBC Radio 4, once said "make friends when you can, not when you need them". There can be few better mantras for networkers to live by.
Trying to network desperately at the last minute, bringing in the big guns of Prime Minister, future King of England and football's golden boy cannot replace a network of strong, deep relationships built over time.
The same applies to your career or your business. Develop your network over time as opportunities arise. Don't immediately look to see whether people can help you or not, don't immediately look for payback for the support you offer.
Build a trusted network over time and the rewards will come when you really need them.
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Competition corner -
Mike Southon has been writing columns for entrepreneurs in both The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times for over three years now. In that time he has interviewed such diverse luminaries as Stephen Fry, Peter Jones, Brent Hoberman and Kelvin Mackenzie.
A compilation of Mike's columns has now been published. Mike has kindly offered five signed copies of this is how yoodoo it for readers of this newsletter.
For a chance of winning your copy, please email or tweet me, using #LopataCompetitions in your tweet, with your contact details, by 1pm on Tuesday 21st December.
If you don't manage to win a copy, please do go out and buy one. As well as providing entertaining reading and sound advice, all profits, both from the author and the publisher Ecademy Press, go to The Prince's Trust.
You can read an extract from the book, Mike's interview with me from the Financial Times last July, here.
Congratulations to the winners of the competition in the last newsletter. Sally Phillips, Joe Cushnan, Declan Hill, Steve Short and Carolyn Pearson all won a copy of The Presentation Coach, Bare Knuckle Brilliance for every Presenter, signed by the author Graham Davies.
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Last year I was interviewed by business guru Peter Thomson for his excellent CD programme The Achievers Edge.
Until now this interview has only been available to subscribers to The Achievers Edge CDs. Peter has now given me a copy of the interview to make available to readers of this e-zine.
You can both download the interview here, as well as benefit from a great offer to subscribe to The Achievers Edge and receive three free copies. I highly recommend the subscription, with some high quality interviews with business leaders and great business advice.
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Thank you for reading this e-zine this year and I hope I have been able to bring you thoughts, tips and advice to help your business or career, as well as a few laughs along the way.
I wish you the very best for the holiday season and I hope you move on to bigger and greater things in 2011.
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If you have any questions you'd like me to address either in this newsletter or on my blog, please either tweet me, post them onto our Facebook or LinkedIn pages or email them to me.
I always try to address as many as possible.
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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
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Because You're Worth It
Networking Skill Tip | Last year I had a coaching client who struggled to break into conversations at networking events. A very successful woman in her own right who consults for leaders of FTSE 500 companies, she felt very self-conscious when walking into events and couldn't understand why anyone would want to talk to her.
I asked her to complete two exercises.
The first was to complete a list of what she brought to her clients. Why did they want to work with her? Her answers included such qualities as insight, a clear mind, years of experience and the ability to simplify complicated ideas.
Wouldn't you benefit from having someone around you with those skills and abilities?
The second task was to imagine she was going on a blind date and had to convince her partner that he'd want to see more of her. What did she bring to a relationship. She decided that, among other traits she was fun, loyal, energetic and had a wide range of interests.
Why wouldn't people want to spend time with her?
If you are struggling to understand why people might want to talk to you, remind yourself of the qualities you bring to your friends and your business colleagues. Suddenly it can start to make sense.
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Your First Time?
Networking Strategy Tip | The first time for many people can be very daunting. The fear of rejection, not knowing what to expect, lack of preparation.
If you haven't been to a networking event at all, or if you face your first visit to a particular organisation, do your homework first and make sure you have a clear picture of what is expected of you.
If you know people who go to the event, ask them about the format, who you should meet and what you might have to do. Ask if you will be expected to introduce yourself or give a presentation. Many groups offer this opportunity but rarely do first time visitors seem to be aware in advance.
If you run a group or have invited a visitor to one you attend, please take a few minutes to ensure that all visitors know what to expect in advance. They, and the rest of the group, will get so much more benefit as a result.
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Avoid being anti-Social
Online Social Networking Tip
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The reach that social media offers us can make it tempting to use sites such as Twitter to attack people who upset us. While using such media to warn others about poor service, or to prompt a company into action, there is a line that you shouldn't cross.
Duncan Bannatyne, the star of BBC's Dragons' Den,
may well have crossed that line last week. After an individual posted an uncomplimentary review of one of his hotels onto the website TripAdvisor, allegedly after threatening to do so if she didn't get �50 taken off her bill, Bannatyne posted her name, telephone number and email address onto his twitter account, with close to 250,000 followers.
However strongly you feel about an individual's actions, you should use social media responsibly. Posting someone's private contact details to such a range of people, whatever the provocation, isn't in my opinion, responsible behaviour.
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Friends and Family
Video Tip |
Who refers you? Do you just turn to professional contacts for support and introductions or do you allow more personal connections, such as friends and family to help?
In this clip from my talk at Sage World earlier this year I talk about the opportunities that may lie within your closest networks.
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Just for Fun
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If you haven't completed your Christmas shopping already, be careful about what you buy for your loved one........VERY CAREFUL!!!
In the doghouse
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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, find out more details on our website or 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 2010. All rights reserved.
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Kick start your networking with small group coaching
| Are you struggling to get a return from your networking? Not sure which group to join or whether your existing group is working for you? Do you not know where your next referral is coming from?
We are offering a limited number of kick start coaching sessions to small firms in the London and surrounding areas.
We will spend two hours reviewing your networking and referral strategies and looking at new approaches that will help you get the response you are looking for.
Whether it's developing a 'Referral Book' of people who will pass you good quality leads, or a clearer idea of where to network, you'll go away with more focus and a strong action plan.
The sessions can either be 1-2-1 or, if you prefer, you can share the cost with two other firms and have a joint session.
You may be eligible for funding towards the cost of this programme.
For more information on this programme how to book and costs, please click here. |
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Andy's Musings...
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A selection of Andy's regular online columns and coverage elsewhere:
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In other people's words:
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"I was recently briefed to do a lot of work by someone on LinkedIn, just because I changed my 'professional headline' as you recommended - thanks for the tip!"
Jackie Barrie
Author, Little Fish Guide to DIY Marketing
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