5 steps to seriously improve your networking skills.

Some of us have a negative attitude towards networking. Perhaps they don't know where to begin, what to say, or how to maintain relationships. While I truly believe that networking and all that is involved in building relationships is a great art form encompassing its own scientific philosophies, in this article, I will select the most important truths to help you upgrade your networking skills effectively.

PHASE 1: PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION

First, forget the word "working" in networking. There are people who put on a completely new persona every time they network, and I wonder how long it takes them to revert back to being themselves once the job is done. I understand you might feel imperfect and want to make the best impression, but you have to understand that these people have met dozens, even hundreds, of people with similar mindsets, and they can easily tell who's wearing a mask and who's not.

Long-lasting relationships stem from sincerity, not from the title on a business card. No matter who you're trying to build a relationship with, treat them like a friend rather than a business partner; this is how you can foster a better relationship. Find out what interests you have, be relaxed during conversations, spice things up with a few jokes, and most importantly, show that you care about them.

PHASE 2: DEFINING OBJECTIVES

Like a car full of gas driving without knowing its destination, working without a purpose wastes your precious time.

I am a proponent of working with a clear purpose and focusing my mental energy on achieving my goals. What is your dream job? What do you envision your future as? What makes you feel most satisfied, happy, and motivated? Write down your goals for the next 5 years, followed by a 1-year plan to achieve those 5-year goals, and finally a 90-day plan to achieve those 1-year goals.

For example, your 5-year goal is to earn $1 million. You need the "means" to achieve this amount, which could be through self-employment, investments, or some other financial tool. Here, let's assume the 1-year plan is to start a business and achieve sales of $5000 per month.

Next, think about what you need to do in the next 90 days to reach $5000 per month in the next year? This could involve finding a suitable partner or securing your first client.

• 5-year goal: Earn $1 million.
• One-year goal: Achieve sales revenue of $5.000 USD/month ($60.000 USD per year)
• 90-day goal: Find your first customer who makes a purchase.

Starting now, pick up a pen and write your goals down on paper.

PHASE 3: MAP OF RELATIONSHIPS

Once you've created a five-year plan, including both short-term and long-term goals, start listing the people you need to connect with to improve your networking skills.

• Step 1: Write down your 5-year, 1-year, and 90-day goals.
• Step 2: For each timeframe, select three people who can help you get started or accelerate your progress toward achieving your goal. These could be people you've met before, acquaintances of acquaintances, or people you've never met.

These three people could be advisors, clients who have supported you, investors who share your vision, key members of the company such as co-owners or valuable employees, leaders and managers who can help you climb the corporate ladder, or "superconnectors" who can connect you with influential people. (See more below)

If you want to start a company, these three people could be potential partners, investors, and future customers. If you sell books, find an agent, advertising partner, and editor.

It's crucial that you invest time and conduct thorough research to ensure that these are the three most essential characters who can help you quickly achieve your goals.

PHASE 4: BUILDING GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS

How can you create a sense of closeness when honing your networking skills while talking to others – whether on Skype, over the phone, or in person? In my opinion, there are three main points to focus on:

• Ask insightful questions (to make the other person think). You can learn more about the other person through the way they ask questions. Speaker Tony Robbins shared that the way you ask questions reveals who you are.

• The better the question, the more interesting the answer. Peter Thiel, a legend in the American investment world, often asked challenging questions like: "How can you achieve a 10-year plan in just 6 months?" Good questions will define you in the eyes of your interlocutor and help them reflect on themselves for personal growth.

• Always be fully engaged with the other person. This sounds easy, but many people struggle with this seemingly simple act. With countless mobile devices at hand, focusing is a skill everyone must learn. Have you ever spoken to someone who is constantly restless, looking around, or interrupting you? In fact, simply making eye contact, listening attentively, and providing relevant answers will put you far ahead of others and give you a significant advantage in building genuine relationships.

Remember these three things: Listen, Ask good questions, and Focus.

STAGE 5: BECOMING A SUPERCONNECTOR

The quickest way to develop your network is to introduce two people you know to each other, and these two people can help each other professionally. It sounds simple, but in reality, few people are willing to do this. If you've ever met someone who proactively helped you connect with others, these "saints" are Superconnectors.

Today, with over 3 billion people online daily, it's incredibly difficult to separate the crowd of followers from the select few who truly connect with the community. This is where the importance of superconnectors becomes even greater, and with the right effort, you too can become one by following these tips:

• Let go of the idea of ​​reciprocity.This is the biggest difference between superconnectors and other people with extensive networks. A superconnector is always willing to give, share, and help others without expecting anything in return.
• Make friends, don't just hand out business cards.Quality over quantity. Don't just focus on business cards; make friends with the people you meet. This is the essential networking skill. Unless absolutely necessary, I always try not to mention work to new acquaintances. Remember, befriending five people is far more beneficial than giving your business card to 50 people whose names you can't even remember.
• Connect other superconnectorsIf you think the superconnectors you know could help each other in business, introduce them to each other. This is the easiest way to build relationships because these people are usually very sociable and have many mutual friends. This benefits them not only but also you, as they will feel grateful and be willing to help you connect with other influential figures.
• Schedule an interview.If done strategically, this is the shortest path to expanding your network. You can interview people you rarely interact with in real life while working on research papers, writing books, or producing podcasts.
• Keep contactThis is a step many of us often overlook. But simply calling them occasionally to briefly check in on their work and life will significantly strengthen your relationship with them. While many people are only concerned with personal gain, showing genuine interest in them as a friend will make you stand out in their network.

Right now, are you thinking of anyone you haven't been in touch with in a long time?

Source: Saga.vn

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