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'Connecting is not Enough' - Tips and Tools to help you get a return from your networking
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While everyone has finally been catching Olympic fever in the UK I have spent much of the time since we last met speaking and networking in Asia.
I had the pleasure of returning to Vietnam following last year's successful trip. This year I spoke in both Saigon and Hanoi to audiences of HR professionals about networking for HR and also ran a workshop for the staff at the excellent Hotel Equatorial in Saigon.
I even made my debut on Vietnamese television, being interviewed on FBNC, their Financial and Business Channel, about networking for people in HR.
If you'd like to watch the interview, it's in English with subtitles, you can view it here.
Following VIetnam I travelled to Hong Kong and met with a number of businesses and networking organisations in a city that, I'm told, thrives on networking 24/7. I hope to be back there soon.
---------------------------------------------------- I've come back to a country in thrall to the Olympic Games, particularly after the fantastic achievements of our athletes, our cyclists and high achievers in a range of other sports. 
I'm looking forward to attending the boxing finals on Sunday, as well as going to the Paralympic Games next month. In the meantime I haven't given up hope of getting a ticket for the athletics in that wonderful stadium. As a big sports fan I was disappointed by the scepticism with which many people anticipated the Games. And it's been great to see and feel that mood change. I hope you're enjoying them as much as I am. Among all of the victories however, amid all of the glory, surely this is the greatest moment of the whole Olympic Games. ---------------------------------------------------- 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.
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Conversation....not PresentationNetworking Top Tip
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When I was involved in running networking groups, much of the agenda was spent with members delivering presentations. The idea was to enable members to paint a clear picture of who they needed to meet and why and trigger referrals as a result.
The problem was that very few members put much thought into what they were going to say each week. The vast majority would leave their 'planning' to the very last minute, often ignoring what other members were saying in the process.
As a result, many presentations were bland, uninspired, ill-thought through and barely listened to. And little was achieved as a result of them.
In my last year with the network I encouraged groups to change the format. My goal was to move the agenda away from presentation and towards conversation. I wanted to break the meetings into smaller groups to discuss the referrals they wanted, business issues they faced and objectives they had set in more detail.
My belief was, and still is, that people will listen harder, engage more and be more likely to take action if involved in conversation rather than being the subject of a presentation.
This philosophy is relevant across all types of networking. Whether you are at a formal meeting, networking online or talking with people around you the mantra remains the same....engage, don't broadcast.
When it comes you should certainly grasp the opportunity to make a presentation.... but ask yourself how you can use it to spark a conversation. Rather than presenting what you do, ask questions and challenge existing thoughts so that people sit up, pay attention and seek you out afterwards to ask you questions and engage in conversation.
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Networking for your first job after University
Networking Video Tip
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A few years ago I recorded this video for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The video was part of a series to help students leaving university and looking for their first job.
With summer holidays soon over and huge competition for graduate jobs, this seems like a good time to share this advice once more.
 | | Andy Lopata Successful Networking |
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Bits & Pieces
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A very inspiring young lady, Talyn Rahman, has been making great strides in the last year with her business 'Grassroot Diplomat'. To celebrate their one year anniversary, Grassroot Diplomat is recognising three diplomats and three politicians for their contributions to grassroots causes.
Talyn has asked if Connecting is not Enough readers can nominate politicians or diplomats who have actively supported entrepreneurs and small businesses in any capacity.
Talyn said, "Entrepreneurs like us don't get too much help from the government but there are government officials who go the extra mile. Perhaps you or some of your readers have a good story to share? If so, we want to hear from them and get these people nominated for the award that can be found on www.grassrootdiplomat.org/nominate."
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As I mentioned above, I haven't given up hope of getting a ticket to the athletics at the Olympics. However, as anyone who has used the Olympic ticketing site will know, it's easier said than done.
Particularly when you have to verify your identity on log in with a 'Captcha' like the one I faced below:
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Lightning Bolt
Just for Fun
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Yet again we've all been struck by a lighting Bolt from the great Jamaican 100m runner. But just how good is Usain Bolt? And how does he compare to the great 100m champions over the years?
This is a fascinating analysis published by the New York Times. looking not just at how 100m athletes have progressed over the last century but how the future compares to the past.
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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 2011. All rights reserved.
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Recommended: How to sell through networking and referrals.
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...and Death Came Third!
The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public
Buy Now
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Kindle version
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Andy's Musings... | |
A selection of Andy's regular online columns and coverage elsewhere:
Huffington Post
BNI Business Networking
Connecting is not enough |
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In other people's words...
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"Andy has been a keynote speaker at all four of Medilink's networking events during 2011 -2012. We work with companies from the UK medical and healthcare industry and Andy's presentations at each event have sent our delegates home with some sound advice and easy-to-use tips to improve their networking skills. The feedback we've received from the attendees has been excellent and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend Andy to any organisation looking for a speaker on networking skills and social media. "
Lucy Watkins, Medilink UK |
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