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As this latest edition of
Connecting is not Enough reaches your inbox, we're drawing to the close of the Ambition Broxbourne
event that I've mentioned in recent editions.
You can catch up with what's happened through the day on Twitter using #Ambition2015 to search.
The primary purpose of the event has been to raise money for two excellent local charities, Teens Unite Fighting Cancer and Isabel Hospice. Of course we won't know the final figure raised until after today but , thanks to generous sponsors and good ticket sales, we're hopeful that we will be able to contribute around �3,000 to be shared between the two charities.
We also wanted to raise the profile of and connect businesses in the local area and the local council has been a key partner in the event, along with the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce for that reason.
There's been another benefit for me personally. Until a couple of years ago I had next to no network in my local area, despite living here for a number of years. All of my work was further afield and my friends are spread across London, the Home Counties and beyond.
I decided that I wanted to change that. I started to attend some local networking groups and practicing what I preach, meeting up with a number of people I met at those groups for 1:2:1s. In fact the idea for Ambition Broxbourne came from one of those lunches.
The event has been a collaborative venture that has taken those relationships to another level. My profile and visibility as an active member of the local business community has, I hope, come on in leaps and bounds and I have a number of people in that community who I feel comfortable turning to for help, advice or just for a chat.
I keep stressing that networking isn't sales but can lead to them. This event has been a classic example of that. I have won new business as a result of the relationships I have built, but the powerful network I've developed locally, and the friendships I now enjoy, go even deeper.
What can you do to take your networking to another level? Not by simply attending events or finding more time on LinkedIn, but by getting involved in collaborative ventures. It might be a charity or community event like the one we're enjoying at the moment, establishing or volunteering for an internal network in your place of work or a range of other activities.
Just after writing this, it was great to see that a very good friend of mine and MD of our wonderful designers Rubber Cheese, Kelly Molson, has been interviewed by Eventbrite because of her success in doing just this. It's a very interesting and worthwhile article and puts into perspective everything I've said above.
My top tip? Put your own personal gain to one side and just focus on a successful outcome. The relationships you build as a result could end up being invaluable.
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I hope you enjoy the newsletter and look forward to your feedback. Please do check out the blogs listed on the right hand side of the page for lots of extra ideas, tips and thoughts.
Let me know what you think.
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 2015. All rights reserved.
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| Video Tip: People Like You |
In a number of my presentations last week I found myself encouraging my audiences to build diverse networks, trying to avoid surrounding themselves just with people of the same background, role and interest as them.
Here's why...
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| | Don't Just Talk to People Like You |
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The A to Z of Networking: O is for...
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Opening up Opportunities
Building a strong and diverse network, having plenty of conversations and developing trusted relationships all lead to more opportunities for your career and for your business.
Surrounding yourself with the right people also gives you the support you need to assess those opportunities and decide which ones you should grasp. An Open heart and an Open mind An open heart will allow you to develop the deep relationships and trust that lie at the centre of a strong network. An open mind will enable you to share honestly with that network and listen to what they have to say without prejudice. Being open to others' support and ensuring that they know they can be open with you will elevate your career to new levels. Yet so few of us really allow ourselves to go there. O is also for...
Obligations
Nobody should feel obliged to support you. 'Give without remembering, receive without forgetting'
Offering your support
Don't force your solutions or support on others but always be ready to offer help when appropriate.
Optimising your network
Make the most of your network by knowing where people can best support you and not being afraid to ask once the relationships are strong enough.
Owning the space/Owning your abilities
Be confident in yourself, believe in yourself and maintain a positive persona.
Organisation
Keep track of your contacts, your conversations and the referrals you have passed and been offered.
Observing
Take note of other people's body language. Listen to what they say. Take yourself out of the equation and think about them.
Oasis
Create an oasis away from the day to day challenges of the workplace, where you can go for support, new ideas or a change of focus.
Thanks again to everyone who contributed on Facebook this month. Contributors were Simon Monk, Nina Hjorth, Laurence Lowne, Mark Lee, Jarina Choudhury, Debbie Tarrier, Phil Shepherd, Arvind Devalia, Tim Houston, Tracey Marie Smolinski, Cindy-Michelle Waterfield and Ian Steel.
If you want to find out a number of the ideas that have missed out, check out the discussion on my profile on Facebook and the Facebook page.
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| Pause for Thought: Libert� Egalit� Fraternit� | |
It felt appropriate less than a week after the attacks in Paris, Beirut and elsewhere and just under three weeks after the plane bombing in Sharm el Sheikh, to pause our fun for once and share some contemplation instead.
On Tuesday night I was delighted that the football match between England and France went ahead. I could have understood a cancellation, particularly from the French perspective, but the best way to defeat terrorism is to not let them terrorise us and to live our lives normally.
The exhibition of unity, strength and support at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night was more powerful than thousands of bombs in this particular fight. It showed us how old rivalries can be set aside and how a modern global community can stand together.
The moment when the whole of England's national stadium, plastered in the Tricolour, rose as one to sing La Marseillaise, was truly moving.
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| ?Recent blogs and interviews | |
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