Management Skills—Networking: increase your ROI

Networking requires an investment of time, money and effort.
Here are four ways to be sure your return on that investment
is worthwhile.

Decide what you want

Why are your attending networking events? Are you looking
for a new job? More business? Social contacts in a new home
town? Whatever your purpose, stay focused on it, or things
can slide into just another long lunch.

Attend the right event

If you are, say, a graphic designed looking for clients, why
spend your time at an event for graphic designers? OK, you
might be able to pick up some overload business from some
designer who is super busy, but that's a very small poor to
fish in. You'd be much better off mixing with folks from
businesses who use design work. Seems obvious, but it's
surprising how many people make this mistake.

Talk to the right people

Don't spend your valuable networking time chatting to people
you already know, who ar not in your traget group. It's
tempting, of course, because it's easy and fun—but it's not
networking! Look for new people and make the effort to meet
and greet them.

Keep track of your results

Every month or so, track back through your networking
opportunities. Who did you meet? Where did you meet them?
How did they fit with your reasons for being there? Did
anyone help you achieve your objective?

Of course, you'll also meet people who are pleasant
additions to your social circle, some of whom may even
become friends. Do include them in your success picture, but
if you find you make more casual acquaintances than the
people you are there to meet, you may need to change your
networking activites so that they bring you a higher Return
On Investment.