Business is about building relationships. If you’ve gleaned anything from the stories we’ve shared, it should be about building trust with your customers and prospects, or successfully negotiating mutual benefits with your partners and suppliers.
But it doesn’t stop there. Ongoing and continuous networking is a crucial activity in the success of your business.
I often hear: “It’s easy for you, Ken, you do it all the time. But I’m not much of a schmoozer. I’m not good at networking.”
Part of the reason many people believe they aren’t good networkers may be ingrained in what they think networking is: selling. While there’s a certain degree of selling yourself in networking, it is not about creating a façade or persona. While there may be a feeling of “being on” or performing, the key to successful networking is grounded in authenticity.