While traipsing around Manhattan in 90 degree weather this week, I found myself cursing (more than once) about having to leave my perfectly cool office to meet a new networking contact for a one-on-one follow up meeting. These meetings typically proceed a brief face-to-face meeting or a phone call, during which one or both of us feels that there are enough synergies between our businesses to merit a more detailed conversation.
Two of the meetings turned out to be very promising, with both new contacts having a strong understanding of the type of business consulting I do, which is one of the main challenges I sometimes have with networking. A third meeting was a lunch with an old networking pal which gave us a great opportunity to get caught up. And the fourth was a total bust, with the person standing me up completely.
I don’t confirm appointments and frankly, don’t like when people call me to confirm. If I say I will meet you somewhere at a certain time, I will put it in my calendar and I will be there. That’s integrity, doing what you say you will do, and I use that as a test of whether someone belongs in my network at all.
No matter how full my schedule, I always like to leave time each month for one-on-one meetings to explore new connections and build on others. Most of them turn out fine, a few turn out great, and some just don’t turn out at all. You just never know what you’ll get.
© 2005, Liz Lynch
Liz Lynch is founder and executive director of the Center for Networking Excellence which develops products and programs to help professionals learn how to build profitable relationships. If you're ready to start networking smarter, get your free networking tips now at www.NetworkingExcellence.com .
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