Why building relationships is key

Dubai - Effective networking can lead your business to success

How many linkedin connections do you have? How many business cards have you handed out? Do you think this constitutes networking? What really matters is the strength of your connections, the value you provide others and whether your business card ever comes out of the receiver's pocket.
It's harder than ever to build a strong network because of our increasingly over-connected and depersonalised world. Networking is more important than ever, yet, for many, it still conjures up feelings of discomfort.
According to findings of a study conducted by networking researchers Tiziana Casciaro, Francesca Gino and Maryam Kouchaki, people perceive networking as a way of "moral contamination and inauthenticity". However, their research reiterates that professional networks lead to more jobs and business opportunities, broader and deeper knowledge, improved capacity to innovate, faster advancement, and greater status and authority.
Additionally, they also noticed that promotion-focused people networked because they wanted to and approached the activity with excitement, curiosity, and an open mind about all the possibilities that might unfold. To get a clearer understanding lets look at some of the benefits of networking besides landing a job:
. New clients: Meeting others can obviously lead to new customers, potential clients and referrals from those you connect with.
. Potential partners: Networking can help you discover potential affiliates, partners and allies for future joint ventures.
. Logistical help: People with diverse experiences can help you to run your business more efficiently or connect you with vendors, suppliers and others that can improve your business functioning.
. Leadership mentoring: A strong motivator for top leaders and influencers to network is the gratification they get from sharing their experience and knowledge.
. Problem-solving: Whether it is always clear, it is part of human nature to help others, reaching out is a good way to begin building a mutually-beneficial relationship.
. Being aware: The world is too fast to keep abreast of constant changes, innovations, regulations and happenings occurring within your industry and especially the ones that can impact your business. Networking gives you eyes and ears.
. New insights: Learning how others are running their businesses or hearing about innovative practices and inventions can spark "Aha" moments that can catapult your business into the future.
. Visibility: Attending networking events builds your reputation and keeps you in the public eye, especially in terms of influencers, movers and shakers.
. Confidence: The more you learn the more capable you become. The more people you know, the more resilient you become. The more you network the better you get at it.
. Synergy: Diverse experiences, exposure and meetings can lead to exponential growth and innovations, new products and partnerships, and game-changing breakthroughs that would never have otherwise occurred.
A strong network isn't just several acquaintances. It is like a collection of interconnected and igniting brain synapses. The people in your network are links to your future as you are theirs. So, let's look at some of the ways to ensure you're surrounded by the right and effective network:
. Learn rather than leg-up: Consider networking an opportunity to expand your horizons in every way rather than just for self-promotion or career advancement.
. Farm rather than hunt: Do your homework and research before hunting down specific people with specific job titles. It's important to get your hands on the diamonds in the rough and cultivate relationships with potentially beneficial people rather than just random connections.
. Give rather than get: One of the most important distinctions of truly effective networking is quid pro quo, to think in terms of you get what you give. As networking expert Michael Goldberg tells Business News Daily: "You shouldn't be going to events and asking people for business. That's selling, not networking. Networking is speaking to an individual in the hope of learning about them and potentially helping them. It's not about pitching and selling.
. Be a good listener than a talker: While you may have heard to have your elevator pitch at the ready; the reality is that encouraging others to talk about themselves helps you to learn how you might help them.
. Be genuine rather than schmoozy: Keeping the conversation real, authentic, genuine and sincere is the simple rule of networking.
. Find common ground: Shared values, goals and worldviews can provide a strong foundation for a blossoming and beneficial relationship. Find common ground and you'll never run out of things to talk about.
Networking is about learning, living and evolving. Spread your wings and connect with people through diverse means. Cultivate relationships instead of collecting connections and you will enrich both your personal and professional life.
The writer is aserial entrepreneur and founder of Quid Pro Quo. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.