|
'Connecting is not Enough' - tips and tools to help you get a return from your networking | |
| |
I'm looking forward to hosting the Camden and Islington Business Awards tonight at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. I asked on Twitter earlier this week for feedback on what business awards mean to their recipients and it was interesting to see how important the recognition and confidence gained from a win was compared to the obvious marketing benefits.
We all suffer from moments where we wonder if we're on the right track or doing the right thing. Business awards certainly play a big role in reassuring those lucky enough to win, but everyone can surround themselves with people who will offer support, encouragement and feedback on an ongoing basis, whatever our business or career path.
A strong network isn't just there to talk about you, they can also play a key role by talking to you and keeping you on track.
----------------------------------------------------
You may have heard or read about councillor and journalist Rowenna Davis in the news earlier this week. Miss Davis found out that her Googlemail account had been hacked when she started to get a lot of calls from worried friends and relatives while she was in a meeting. Someone had hacked into her account and sent friends and family messages saying that she had been robbed at gunpoint and needed money.
One thing that struck me about this story was the lack of support from Google when Miss Davis approached them, and how she finally got some action from the company. Despite several approaches, she was getting no help, until someone made an introduction for her.
"The only reason I was able to regain access to my account was through chance", she said, "a friend of a friend works at Google."
We can never underestimate the power of our networks to help us and shouldn't feel afraid to ask for that support when we need it. Until you ask, you don't know who people know.
----------------------------------------------------
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.
Happy Networking!
If you like what you read, please feel free to forward it and invite others to subscribe.
----------------------------------------------------
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. |
|
Storyville
Networking Top Tip
| |
If you want your network to help you, to refer you or to spread the word about you, one of your key challenges is to get your message across in a way that is both 'sticky' and 'transferable'. In other words, it's easy for people to remember and to repeat.
Perhaps the best way of doing so is to tell a story. People are, on the whole, more likely to engage with you and pay attention if you tell them a story than if you list facts. And they're far more likely to repeat what you told them to others.
Last Wednesday night I appeared on a panel at an event co-hosted by Ernst & Young's Women's Network and the European Professional Women's Network to discuss the importance of storytelling to create personal impact.
After the discussion had finished, one of the attendees approached me and asked me how you start telling your stories to people you have known and worked with for over four years. "Won't they wonder why you haven't mentioned this before?", she asked me.
After a few minutes discussion we were joined by her Director. As the conversation developed, the Director started telling a story from her career to illustrate the point she was making. The woman who had originally approached me was hanging on every word, eager to hear the outcome.
Not only was the original point that prompted the story made clear, it also answered the original question better than any logic on its own could possibly do. There was nothing unusual or out of place about the Director telling the story, despite the fact that the two colleagues had known each other for some time. And everyone was captivated as we listened - fully engaged.
People tell stories constantly, precisely because of the power they carry. What stories can you share with your network to get your message across?
|
The Power of Referrals
Video Tip
| |
I was interviewed recently by Tom Evans about referrals strategies, my books and the fear of networking and speaking in public.
You can watch the interview here.
 | | Andy Lopata : the power of referrals |
|
|
Bits & pieces | |
My good friend Carole Spiers launched her new book last week, "Show Stress Who's Boss" You can read a sample chapter from the book by clicking on the image of the very relaxed lion above.
---------------------------------------------
I'll be speaking about the importance of networking for your career development at Women in Banking and Finance's Personal Excellence Programme at Citigroup Centre in Canary Wharf, London on November 15th.
If you'd like to attend, full details are here. ---------------------------------------------
Should your LinkedIn profile be written in the first or third person? I always advocate first person, as reported by Eilidh Milnes in her newsletter following my recent presentation at Sage World. Michael Dodd, whose workshop I featured in a recent edition of 'Connecting is not Enough', countered that he felt that a third person profile is more effective.
|
|
What would you do....?
Just for Fun
|
A touch of viral advertising this month, with a very clever campaign by Carlsberg in Belgium.
In the stunt, unsuspecting couples came into a cinema to watch a film, only to find the screening room packed with bikers and only two seats free...right in the middle.
Their reactions were caught on camera, and the brave couples who took their seats were greeted with their own reward.
Thanks to Steve Nelson of Image Directors and Greenwich Chamber of Commerce for sharing this with me.
 | | Carlsberg stunts with bikers in cinema |
|
|
|
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 2011. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
Recommended: How to sell through networking and referrals.
Buy Now
Compare on Amazon.co.uk |
...and Death Came Third!
The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public
Buy Now
Compare on Amazon.co.uk
Kindle version
|
 |
In other people's words | |
"Andy delivered two extremely informative and well received sessions at the inaugural Sage World event in 2010.
They were so well received, we decided to invite Andy back for a second year to deliver another two insightful sessions.
In the feedback from attendees at Andy's two talks in 2011, around 80% of respondents said both that the presentations were excellent and that they received excellent value from the sessions.
Andy has been described as inspirational, engaging, informative, fantastic and superb!
If you are looking for a motivational networking strategist, we would recommend Andy Lopata every time."
Joanne Leonard, Operations Manager, Benchmark Communications
"Andy's expertise is 'connecting' and during his workshop at the 'Sage World' conference 2011, I learned networking tips and how improve my LinkedIn profile.
These takeaways were explained in such a way that I took action within 24 hours!
Andy Lopata talks with conviction borne out of experience. He shows you how, makes it easy for you to follow through and in a brief workshop helped someone who thought she already knew a thing or two about how to connect! Thank you Andy!"
Eilidh Milnes, Managing Editor at Talk Confidence International
|
|
|
