Connecting IS Relationship Building.
Connecting is essential for creating new business opportunities. The art of connecting is the willingness to reach out to someone you don’t know. Don’t allow it to intimidate you. Maintain a positive attitude, and enjoy the success it will yield you.
In Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point, he describes Connectors “as having an ability to span many different worlds, subcultures and niches.” Connecting is not the same thing as networking – Connectors have traits such as “energy, insatiable curiosity and a willingness to take chances.”
You must build relationships to create the basis of information. Good relationships allow for stronger negotiating power and better customer service. Generally when we think of connecting, we focus our efforts outward, but good relationships are also intricate to the general well being of the company.
This month, we share a few tips for effective relationship building:
- Always remember that people like to talk about themselves, not about you. So, be interested, not interesting! That will be the best tip you will EVER receive.
- The more you discover about individuals, the easier it is to engage them in helping or recommending you and your services. This will allow you to tailor your recommendations to best meet their needs.
- When in a large networking environment, don’t cling to one person or group. Move around. And, don’t sit with other people from your company – pick a table where you don’t know anyone. In other words, mingle!
- Don’t give your entire story at a networking event. Practice your very brief elevator speech. Ambiguity stirs the curiosity and creates an opportunity to meet again for a scheduled appointment. Remember, if you focus on them, they will like you, but they really won’t know much about you. That’s exactly where you want them.
Start implementing these “how-to’s” today and practice incorporating them daily. Relationship building becomes a mindset and will get easier and easier.
HAPPY CONNECTING!
These helpful tips and advice come from one of the best connectors you will ever meet, Linda Elliott. Linda through her company, Elliott Connection, LLC, skillfully facilitates the matchmaking process to generate profitable partnerships. She has an amazing ability to dream with her clients and to help them envision new horizons, new hopes and greater achievements. You can find out more about Linda at www.elliottconnection.com.
She is also the Founder of Healthcare Think Tank and our fearless leader!