Fake Networking VS Real Connecting

Is there a difference between networking and connecting?

Most people think that these two terms are the same but there is actually a profound distinction between the two. In fact, they’re two different ways of relating to people. Networking is simply going up to someone, introducing yourself and giving him or her business card and then asking for theirs in return. That may get the both of you acquainted, but not necessarily connected. Connecting goes a few steps beyond networking, and this is where you can make a bigger impact and be remembered more easily.

Once you introduce yourself and exchange business cards you can then take the extra step of spending a bit more time and get to know this new contact. That investment sets the stage for something deeper and meaningful, which is a follow-up invitation for coffee or even lunch. After the meeting, you should actually send an email saying that you were pleased to meet that person and you should bring up at least one point that was discussed. Most people usually just forgo this step, thereby missing a valuable opportunity to make a real connection.

This really does set you apart as a genuine human being 99% of the time. Most people I come across for the first time simply meet, greet, exchange business cards and then totally disappear. The networking is superficial because there’s no follow-up after the initial meeting. It’s the sending of the email after the meeting that sows the seed of a new relationship.

In this regard, Very few people that I meet will volunteer to do this without any agenda whatsoever (wanting something for free). While I don’t believe that most people are disinterested, I think that they’re just being lazy. After all, it does take effort to write a follow-up email or a phone call.
Once you’ve gotten to know each other a little better over coffee or lunch, you can stay in touch via phone or using one of the tools of social media (e.g. Twitter or Facebook). That is a nutshell is how one can truly connect rather than simply network.

So... Here is what I decided.

Networking is the process. Connections are the results.
Networking happens the minute you walk out the door. Well let me rephrase that sentence. IF you are working the social media sites, you are networking online. Networking is interacting with people and learning something about them. Every person you interact with can become a connection. In order to be a good networker, you must keep information on individuals that you interact with in person or online. This step is the one missed by so many people.

Find a way to organize contact cards you have collected so you can easily enter them into some kind of contact management program. If you find a discussion on a social media site particularly interesting, and you appreciate what a person has said, ask him to connect with you online. People with a large network are considered powerful for they have the ability to connect people from various disciplines. Just this last week I introduced four entrepreneurs to each other. I am predicting not only will they like each other; I believe some great partnership may develop because I connected them.

Keep networking and expand your list of connections!!

I would love your feed back let me know what you think :) 

Thank you for reading & sharing
Dianna Hicks
Event Planner
Luxe Events Atlanta
www.luxeeventsatlanta.com