Everyone networks with an Agenda

Do you keep others in mind when you network?

My first real encounter with a great networker came back in the 90’s when I switched jobs and spent a great deal of time with Fred. Fred knew something about anything that was going on, and with a little effort, could find out much more. He was a hub.

While I’ve never really been interested in “gossip”, I saw that passing along information and connecting people was a great help – and completely different than talking about the outfit that so-and-so wore the other day…

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Lots of resources for networking

Since then, I’ve learned a whole lot – heck, I’ve written about it and shared it with anyone that was interested. (Last year’s article on my “Three Conversations” rule drew a lot of attention and was highly read…-)

Most recently, I’ve recommended Darcy Rezac’s book “The Frog and Prince” in my article – “Networking at the Frog Pond”. (Which remains a great resource)

One concept about networking that I haven’t seen mentioned lately is that everyone has his or her own agenda for being there. Understanding this and being sympathetic to others’ agenda when networking can help you succeed in obtaining your own goals.

Networking – give and take

Your success at networking depends on being able to listen as well as talk.

I’ve run across networkers that didn’t want to take the time to get to know the other person – what interests them, what things will help them – before unloading their own needs. It becomes a one sided affair, and I doubt these people get much out of their efforts.

Their “focus” keeps them from interacting well.

Focused networking vs general networking

Single minded groups clearly have their purpose – I help run GVSAGE, which is a professional organization for system administrators in the local area. Other groups excel at single tasks like helping people in job transition or business generation. While off topic conversations develop at these events, those that attend are looking to further their goals within that area – become a better sysadmin, find a job, make more sales.

I’m also on the board of Digital Rochester. That group’s focus is on the broader “technical and professional” environment. Digital Rochester runs monthly networking events (among other business building activity) that bring in people of all types.

It’s a great thing to have a whole lot of different people together – each with different reasons for being there.

And here’s the tricky factor – if only one type of person were to come to events, they’d fade. Some people come to the group’s networking event because they’re looking for work. If 100% of the people who came were looking for work, nobody would leave with any;-)

So here’s the crowd we get:

• People looking for employment
• People looking to hire
• People looking to sell (kind of like those looking for work but a different product;-)
• People looking to partner or invest
• People looking to meet new people and build relationships
• Hungry and Thirsty People;-)
• People looking for a night out, a place to hang for a bit, to meet friends

Respecting other people

The networker that fails to grasp that “the other guy or gal” has an agenda fails at networking as clearly as the stranger that walks up and says “Hi, I’m JS. I’m looking for a job, do you have one?” (And if you don’t clearly understand why that’s awful on so many levels, you must read Darcy’s book)

We want to encourage all of our frog ponds (places to gather and network) to be diverse, noisy, interactive, and jumping!

Here’s to hoping that I’ll see you at one of our events in the near future – and if not, that you’ll keep this in mind when you’re out on your own.