If you have ever stepped back and watched the action at a business networking event, the resemblance to a singles bar is uncanny (and slightly unnerving). Think about it, there’s a bunch of people wandering around, nervously approaching people they don’t know because they’re hoping to meet that special someone that will make their life better. And most prefer to stay with the group of people they already know (or by the bar) because it’s more comfortable.
Professional networking has a lot of similarities to dating – which shows you why a lot of people don’t like networking, because let’s face it, dating is hard. But if we look at the similarities, we can also see how to make our networking more effective and ultimately, more fun.
- You have to go where the prospects are. – Single people hang out at bars and parties for a reason – that’s where the other single people are. In the same way, you should go where your ideal business connections are spending time. Whether it’s a Chamber of Commerce event, an association mixer, or an entrepreneur’s club, put yourself in close contact with the people you want to meet.
- The best introductions come from friends. – If you want to grow your network, start with your friends. A lot of first dates come from, “Introduce me to your cute friend…”. Start building your business network by asking your friends and close colleagues: “Who else should I know?” and “Can you introduce us?”. And then follow up on those introductions
- You’re going to have a lot of first dates. – Just like finding a significant other, when you are looking for clients, employers, vendors, or whomever, it’s a numbers game. You aren’t going to have a strong personal or professional with everyone you meet, so you have to meet a lot of people to construct a vibrant network. It helps to “play the field” as much as possible. The good thing, though, unlike dating, the more relationships you develop, the better.