Networking Failure — Guaranteed
By
Peter Biadasz
Because there is so much fantastic material available on how to acquire and
sharpen your networking skills, I thought I would take a different approach.
You
see, in teaching the art of people networking for almost 20 years, I have talked
with many who who say networking is not for them or that networking
just does not work. In analyzing those reasons, I have found some shared
qualities among these networking failures.
If you want to guarantee your failure
as a networker, do some or all the following:
1) Don’t recognize you are a networker. A networker is someone who
interacts with others. By not realizing that you are actually networking
everyday, you will not work on the skills necessary to become more effective in your
daily, common interactions.
2) Don’t organize your network. Networkers should be a total
resource for everyone they come into contact with. By not organizing your network
(and studies have shown that you know at least 200 people), you will be of no
use to anyone who has a need. Let others ask other people they know instead of
asking you.
Why should you be a reliable source to assist others both personally and
professionally?
3) Have a terrible attitude. People interact and buy from people they
like. Be negative, complain, don’t compliment others, and frown. If you do
this enough, you probably won’t know enough people to bother with Item 2.
4) Don’t pass leads to others. If you see that someone may have a
need, either personally or professionally — above all — do not assist them in their success.
By not assisting others, you are guaranteeing they will not assist you in
your success.
5) Do not attend networking functions. However, if you must attend, don’t initiate
conversations — just eat the food. Maintain an attitude that others must come
up to
you to talk at these functions. Your attitude will attract — or detract — them as in
Item 3 above.
6) Do not join a networking group. If you do accidentally get into a group, do not pass
leads. A networking group is designed to be your own private marketing
department. In exchange, you market the other members to your contacts. Resist
the urge to tell anyone you know about them. Make sure to
complain when they do not give you leads. Again, eat a lot of the food at the meetings.
7) Do not visit with people in your network one-on-one to find out how you
can better assist them. One-on-one meetings are for those
who truly want to add value to their lives and the lives of others.
8) Do not prepare a 30-second commercial. When asked to explain what
you do, act uninterested and bored with your profession. Be sure you go over
your time limit if in a group setting, and repeat yourself twice. It will help
burn the minutes if you call attention to all the negative things about
yourself. Especially include how you think you are a terrible speaker and you
hate to talk in front of groups.
9) Do not be a professional at the art of networking. Never follow up
on leads given to you, don’t give leads (as discussed in Item 4) above, and in
general, do not attempt to add value to the lives of others.
10) Procrastinate!!! Why work to be a better networker today whet you
can start tomorrow? Why not finish reading this article next week?
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ. If you desire to be a master networker, just do
the opposite of the list you just read. You will not only be amazed and
satisfied at the results, but will be a guaranteed networking success. My desire
is for your success, but your success is up to you.
Copyright 2007 Peter Biadasz, used with permission
