Posted By Donna Fisher on April 7, 2009

It’s easy to go out and meet a lot of people and call that “networking”. And yet networking is about a whole lot more than just meeting people.  Networking is about connecting with people.  

The connection makes the difference.  You can meet a lot of people but if you have not connected then there’s a good chance they won’t remember you, follow up with you, or think of you when they meet someone who’s a perfect prospect for you.

Focus on connecting:

1. Give people your full attention.  Listening is a key to connecting.  And listening is about giving others your full attention, being present with them in the moment and truly hearing what they have to say (rather than partially listening while thinking about what you are going to say). 

2.  Be sincerely interested and curious about people.  Develop a child-like curiosity that makes you want to hear what people have to say and learn more about who they are and what they’re up to in life.  Be on a search to find something interesting and inspiring about everyone that you meet.

3.  Create a sense of relatedness.  Listen for commonalities, for similar interests, traits, challenges, and experiences.  There is always something that we have in common with the people we are meeting because we happen to be at the same place at the same time.  

4.  Engage with people.  Engaged is defined as, “To involve oneself, to participate, to hold the attention of, to interlock”.  Engaging is the act of connecting by participating. 

5.  Acknowledge the presence of the people you meet by making eye contact, giving a firm, friendly hand shake, calling them by name and doing your best to relate to them as a valuable, contributing fellow human being.

Once you connect with people, you open the door to opportunities, possibilities and valuable relationships.  Yes, it’s easy to meet a lot of people. And it can become “just as easy” to connect with people.  For although meeting a lot of people may or may not make a difference, connecting with people is always self-empowering and more likely to make a difference in everyone’s lives.

Categories: Communication, Consciousness, Making a Difference, Networking
Tags: acknowledgement, connecting, engaging, listening, Making a Difference, Networking