POSITIVE NETWORKING BLOG

There’s probably no one that knows more about being a connector than this author.

Meetings which are meant to bring people together, share information and maybe spark a bit of innovation, often fall flat, or suck the life blood out of the attendees. Eric Ryan, co-founder of method (cool cleaning products), shares what his company does at their weekly ‘huddle’– a Monday morning meeting everyone looks forward to attending.
Here is what they discuss at their huddles…

We politely keep our ‘trap shut’ when a business guru proudly proclaims that he doesn’t give out business cards–too tacky, everyone already knows them, wouldn’t want the’ little people’* having access to their email address… Or there’s the tech guru who says that giving out a business card is so last century–get with the program people and start bumping each other electronically. We are happy to see Bloomberg Businessweek taking a stand, debunking the death of the paper business card. (*Oh, about those little people: Tom Peters says ‘little people have big friends.’)

But as result of all this dialogue about the business card, audiences often want to know if they should give out business cards. Here’s a recent answer to this question from a reader who had just been given advice to only exchange cards electronically:

Dear David,

We are puzzled by that advice. In our experience, most people have difficulty remembering names, so without something to remind us and to provide contact information we are hooped… (Businessweek article click link)

Here is what one reader, Kelvin Claveria says about Work the Pond! in his review entitled Not Your Typical Networking Book.

Reason#1 It is actually fun to read.

Reason #2 There is some scientific stuff.

Reason #3 They know what they are talking about.

Reason #4 The book recognizes that networking doesn’t just happen at networking events.

Reason #5 (And this is kinda related to Number 4) The book sees networking as a natural part of a fulfilled life.

Link to Kelvin’s blog on next page.

When inviting someone to join your LinkedIn network it is helpful to give them some additional contact information. Example: Hi Lynne, Happy New Year! I was wondering if I could add your to my professional network. Then put your full name, title, company, and contact information. Use all the real estate on the page!

TIP 1. ACCEPT THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. Recognize that if all the online connecting and the ability to work in your pajamas from home, is making you feel isolated, you are not alone. Sherry Turkle, author of Alone Together, says “We may be free to work from anywhere, but we are also prone to being lonely everywhere. In a surprising twist, relentless connection leads to a new solitude.” Make an effort to be where the action is, see Tip 8 and advice from Steve Jobs.

TIP 2. RAGE GENTLY AGAINST THE MACHINES. Things happen faster if you talk to someone in person or pick up the phone. The good news is that people actually answer their phones. It is a novelty. Click below for the next 8 tips.

This is a simple thing to do when networking, keep it open. These two women and two men behind them have the right technique. Now, all we have to do is get the two women to turn around. That’s how networking happens! The two guys at the bottom left corner do not look approachable…they look hungry.

Quote from Steve Jobs: There is a temptation in our networked age to think that ideas can be developed by email and iChat. That is crazy. Creativity comes from spontaneous meetings, from random discussions. You run into someone, you ask what they are doing, you say Wow and soon you are cooking up all sorts of ideas. Unquote

Walter Isaacson in his insightful book about this amazing and mercurial man, says that despite Jobs being a denizen of the digital world he knew all too well its isolating potential. While Job’s way of creating innovation may have been more in-your-face than most of us would subscribe to, Apple’s amazing innovations came from these face-to-face encounters.
Learn about The Google Walk as well….