Networking is an influential business development tool you can use to grow. Small business owners and their teams must focus on like-minded professionals and their target audience in their respective communities. The power of your network can be the difference maker regarding profitability, resonance, and reach.
Traditional networking groups thrived on exclusivity and referral, removing one of the most critical ingredients: collaboration. As a member of the Be Better Platform, you know that our network is not just about exchanging business cards & small talk at events. Our platform supports you in forging connections, leveraging collective expertise, and opening doors to mutual opportunities.
However, before you can build your network, defining your why and how you deliver results creates an opportunity for a high-value connection with other professionals & expanding your target audience. Here are four essential steps you can take today to help you become an even more high-value connection:
Step 1: Discover and Maximize Your Core Strengths
According to Gallup, people who use their strengths daily are six times more likely to be engaged on the job and three times more likely to experience value in their personal and professional lives.
Understanding your strengths in business informs how you speak about yourself to others. If you haven’t taken the Gallup Strengths Finder assessment, it’s a tool I use as a coach in my one-to-one sessions.
Are you great at strategic thinking, relationship building, or influencing others? Use these strengths to enrich your voice as you introduce yourselves to your peers.
Think of it this way:
Is it better to answer the question “What do you do?” with:
A. I’m a business coach
or
B. I use my strategic mindset to help clients navigate personal & professional setbacks & achieve their goals.
Step 2: Mindset is Everything
A winning mindset is essential for sustained success. Research by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck found that individuals with a growth mindset, who believe that abilities can be developed, show greater resilience and higher achievement levels. This mindset empowers you to view challenges as opportunities and to consistently strive for higher levels of success.
Focus on changing and consistently harnessing a positive and proactive mindset. I like to call this “possibility thinking” – as if you’re actively asking, “What else is possible here?”
It’s easy to show up to things and go through the motions, especially when we feel frustrated by outcomes that don’t work out how we imagined them to. Adjusting to possibility thinking dials you back into yourself and your expertise.
Embrace challenges, view failures as learning opportunities, and stay committed to your goals. Push yourself out of your comfort zone by setting ambitious goals and taking calculated risks. Overcome doubts and uncertainties by believing in your abilities and a clear vision of your objectives.
When you are deeply rooted in what’s possible, things shift from “maybe” to “happening.”
Step 3: Develop a Comprehensive Action Plan
Create Your Timeline, Goals, and Action Plan: What are you aiming for & Why? What is your motivation behind pushing for that thing? A comprehensive action plan not only helps you stay organized and focused, but it also demonstrates your commitment and professionalism to your network. Where do you think you’ll get stuck? What kind of support do you need to achieve it? When you’re empowered by knowing your aim, you’ll become a better connector because you have a vision as your guide. You’ll more easily be able to assess if certain connections align with what you are pushing for, not just today but into the future.
Establish clear timelines, set achievable goals, and develop a detailed action plan. A well-structured action plan keeps you on track and demonstrates your commitment and professionalism to your network. It can also create opportunities for them to clearly see how to participate with you.
Prioritize your tasks and optimize your time management to meet your goals efficiently. Use tools and techniques to keep yourself organized and productive, ensuring you have the time to engage meaningfully with your networking group.
Investing in personal and professional development is essential for your growth and success. Allocate resources to learning new skills, attend relevant workshops, hire a coach to work on one-on-one development, and develop systems that maximize efficiency and growth. This proactive approach will make you become even more grounded in your work and free up time to serve as a resource for others in your network.
Step 4: Leverage the power of the network
The Be Better Platform serves as a space for you to leverage opportunities to intentionally connect, develop, and impact your business. How are you maximizing your experience?
Who else do you want to invite when you come to a networking event? Who do you know and would benefit from having there?
Who else do you know that needs to be here?
Building and maintaining solid connections is vital. Learn how to leverage your existing relationships and manage referral partners effectively. Invite them to our events, let them experience what our network is about, and thank them for acting on your personal invitation. This often opens doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
It starts with a simple text message, such as, “Hey, are you going to be there?” or “I’d love to connect with you at this event.”
Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Create and cultivate them actively. Look for ways to collaborate with others in our network and be open to innovative ideas that can lead to mutual growth.
By implementing these strategies, you can position yourself as a high-value connection in your business networking group. Remember, the key is to consistently offer value, support others, and stay committed to your personal and professional growth.
