Economic
development practitioners once recognized marketing
as encompassing the approach to doing their jobs (source).
Beyond marketing is building and maintaining working relationships
in order to get their jobs done. Area
and local development representatives absolutely must have a
network of allies made up of resource
suppliers and service
providers. A skillful dedication to networking both
inside and outside of a location seeking
economic development is essential as an ongoing activity.
 about
networking (page 5 of the introduction to The Network)
about
virtual networking (a definition in the glossary of The Network)
Best
Practice Essentials for Successful Networking (a resource of The
Network)
about
the
Global Registry of Contacts (a resource of The Network)
about
networking and its relationship to the mission of The Network
amicably networking:
It goes without saying that networking in
a friendly environment is most desirable. Skillful networkers sense
when there are opportunities
to introduce themselves using their given names or nicknames first.
The surname comes after that when it is appropriate to add it.
This opens the door to amicable networking when everyone is interested
and engaged.
For example, allow me to introduce myself as Bob Bob
Glover. I am responsible for giving you this bit of information
about networking.
My mail typically comes formally addressed to Robert Glover,
especially from those who don't know me by my nickname.
There are two things to accomplish in business
networking other than everyone saying their names.
One is for people meeting strangers to say what
they do in such a way as to hopefully spark an interest. Introducing
ones services and service area requires skillful timing and
a sense of when enough has been said. As rule of thumb, an
initial introduction of what one does should take no more than
20 seconds. Wait for the questions after that. The next accomplishment
in building working relationships it to provide a business
card.
Understanding and having an ability to adjust to cultural
preferences and rules as well as observing the traditions
or prevailing event guidelines of a specific group may
cause one to set amicable networking aside. There are
plenty of situations where a more formal approach is
called for. In no case in networking is it advisable to
introduce oneself with a title when there is risk of
putting others on the defensive.
go back
networking activities are defined as those actions
taken to develop contacts, to build and/or maintain relationships. They
are also the cumulative actions of a networking
event.
go back
resource: Stick Around; What’s the staying power
of your personal success?Mark
Henricks at www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2006/november/168798.html
go back
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