3 common networking mistakes and how to avoid them
There are many old adages attached to networking and how it can help you to thrive in life and business, including:
#1 Your network is your net worth
Because the people in your network can help seed, invest or support your business ideas. They can also refer clients to you, recommend you for business advancing opportunities and so on.
#2 You are the sum total of the 5 people that you surround yourself with
As the people in your network help expand your ideas about what is possible for you (financially and otherwise), especially if they’re doing better than you in that area.
#3 People only do business with people that they know, like and trust
Meaning: to have a profitable business you must learn how to build and leverage profitable business relationships.
In other words, networking is one of the best ways to increase your authority, your bank account and- most importantly- your impact.
You know,
That message that you want to share with the world
That legacy that you want to leave
The reason you believe God put you on the earth
That’s your impact or your “why”
However, networking is an art that not everybody gets right. Here are 3 things to avoid to ensure that you do:
Lessons from Esther on how to get on the radar of influencers in your industry/niche
There are some seats at the table that you have to be invited to rather than create yourself
This is known as vertical networking. For example, Esther would not have been able to get her audience with the king and save her people if she hadn’t first gotten on his radar as described in Esther 5:1-2:
“Now it happened on the third day [of her fast] that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne... So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favour in his sight, and… Esther went near [to speak to him]”
But how do we get close enough to the influencers within our industries to get on their radars in this new digital age?
How do we get to their inner courts, so to speak?
By being an asset to them and/or they’re community through:
Lessons from Esther on the difference between influence and manipulation
Last week we talked about the importance of giving before you get when it comes to leveraging our relationships through networking
This was something that Esther did with the King by throwing him 2 wine banquets before she so much as broached the subject of saving her people. Click here if you missed that, sis
Which is known as harnessing the law of reciprocity
Here’s the thing, though…
There is a thin line between harnessing the law of reciprocity and being manipulative
Which is yet another reason that networking gets the reputation of being icky and gross
Here are some key differences between the 2:
Lessons from Miriam on How to be a Woman of Influence
When you hear the word “influencer,” sis, what comes to mind?
Is it:
Someone who travels to beautiful countries and takes gorgeous pictures?
Is it someone who has 10.5 million followers on social media and/or their email list?
Is it someone with multiple brand deals?
Is it someone who’s always seen to be rubbing shoulders with mainstream celebrities and/or those within your industry?
If that’s what comes to mind, I can’t say that I blame you, because that is what most people mean when they use the word “influencer” today. Here’s the thing, though-
Despite the images of influence that we’re often bombarded with, it’s actually a huge responsibility
I mean…
The definition of influence tells us so!
For example…
Lessons from Ruth on How to Find a Mentor
One of the things that I have mentioned quite a bit, in these last few weeks of studying Ruth, is that Ruth went from working in Boaz’ fields to owning them with him as his wife
She accomplished this feat through many different means and methods such as:
Networking horizontally: Which involves networking across; with your peers
Networking vertically: Which involves networking with the gatekeeper(s) of your industry
Making a proposal: Which involves pitching your ideas so that they can be realised e.g. for PR
But, if you study the story properly, it becomes very apparent that the thing that really helped Ruth succeed was the mentoring that she received
Namely from Naomi (her mother-in-law)
This shows us, as modern women, how important it is that we seek mentorship too
Not sure how, sis?
We can take a leaf out of Ruth’s book in the following ways:
Lessons from Zipporah on How to Harness the Law of Reciprocity while Networking
I hate to burst your bubble, sis, but…
<sigh>
As much as it’s really important to set a firm foundation for your networking and PR efforts by knowing your “why,” no-one else cares about it
#justsaying
“So how do I get other people to care about my mission and vision, Nina?” I hear you say
Well…
It all comes down to knowing how to harness the power of reciprocity
Which is something that is really well demonstrated through Moses and Zipporah’s relationship- as detailed in the video below.