Most business owners at some stage find themselves faced with what I call a growth dilemma. They don’t know whether to grow their business or not. If you don’t want to grow a world class business, don’t worry; you probably are in a big majority! 85% of small businesses want their business to fit in with their goals of having a good, well-balanced life. The other 15% ones are growth-oriented business builders. But to grow a business one either has to cut the costs, increase productivity, expand his operations etc. Expanding operations is comparatively easier and effective. Networking falls under the purview of it.

What Networking Is?
Networking means getting to know the people with whom you interact, keeping their needs in mind so that you can connect them with information, or with people who can address their needs, and along the way, getting a few connections yourself. Once reserved for professionals, networking now is an undeniably valuable career-management or business expansion skill applicable to all.
We are social creatures by nature; interdependency is the basis of the sophistication of our civilization. This interdependency in business has a simple name, “networking”. It’s hard to deny the fact that by networking with your existing business relationships, you can make just about any task simpler with just a call or email to your contacts.

Networking can occur at social gatherings, a local event, convention, or gathering of peers. With today’s online communities it also occurs on the Internet at the many Social Networking sites. Building relationships and referral partners has always been important. It is even more important today because of a tough economy.
A good networker listens to what other people have to say about their business, their experiences, and their challenges and how the current climate is affecting them. In these listening situations you will learn insider knowledge, pick up current trends and hear what competitors or other people in the market are doing to attract business.
Here is a quick test to see if you are effectively networking. Calculate how many business cards you have in your collection. Now, count how many of those cards have led to a business relationship or sale? If the answer is not many, then you really are not networking effectively. You are just making meaningless contacts. You need to network.
Is networking not easy for you? If so then you need to reconsider the concept as networking can work manifold wonders for you and your business or career.
It does not help feel awkward, shy and even frozen with fear when entering a room of total strangers. Yes, all of us and not just you have that fear and it’s perfectly normal to feel intimidated. But with a little preparation and practice you can perfect networking and find it a powerful tool with which to build your credibility. The bottom line is: You have to jump in and do it if you’re going to create success.
Below are 5 tips to help the “connection challenged” build and maintain relationships:
1. Networking is a skill to be learned and practiced. We try to be someone or something we’re not when meeting others, and that’s the source of much of our frustration and anxiety. To hone your skills, begin by offering someone you know and feel comfortable with some helpful information. It could be an article, a website, or book that fits a personal or business interest. Practice this - or something like it - two or three times per week.  
2. Approach someone by asking them for advice. Does striking up a conversation with someone in person or via email make you sweat? Do you feel like you’re asking for something or bothering that person? Switch your perspective. For example, if you’re considering a career change or starting your own business and you meet someone you admire, ask him/her if he/she could give you some advice on the next steps to take.
3. Get out of your comfort zone. Whenever we’re learning and practicing a new skill there will be discomfort - it’s all part of the process. To make any forward progress we have to stretch ourselves beyond what we already know.  
4. Remind yourself that you do have something to offer others. We each have unique skills and qualities to contribute. When you begin reaching out to others and see a positive response, it will build your confidence in the value you provide to your network.  
5. Run your own race. Remember that you’re building relationships with others, not on a mad dash to collect business cards and hone your elevator pitch.
And effective networking involves selecting those business people with whom you would like to work with. If you jump at every opportunity and are desperate to make money, regardless of ethics, you may end up with the client from hell or people who will not benefit your business. And you may also lose your self –respect.
Focus on developing a relationship of respect, trust and confidence between the person and yourself. When you have achieved this then you can work with that person. And you will find by acting in a respectful, trusting and confidential way you will usually attract the same kind of people who you want to be associated with. If a person does not respond in the same way then you politely avoid forming a business relationship.
There are three main types of professional and business networks - traditional networking; online or e-networking for common goals and structured networking clubs.
Traditional Networking as the name suggests is what every one is familiar with. That simply means meeting and greeting people. Having good relations in the industry you are in. Joining associations and visiting events pertaining to your line of business to have better contacts. Whether just in your office building or throughout your entire city, this approach can expand your business circle with potential business clients.
Nowadays, the most popular networking facilitators are the internet based networking websites that offer professional and business connections. These professional and business networking sites offer excellent opportunities to expand and flourish businesses. These are an amazing common platform wherein the people of various specialties and backgrounds join in for mutual business benefits. The idea of e-networking is that you have a platform wherein you are exposed to and made visible to a greater number of people. This increased exposure helps you get in touch with the very people who could prove to be the help you need in getting your job done more efficiently and affordably.
Structured Networking Clubs are available that expect a lot of time commitment from you but are worth it. These clubs are a great help when it comes to starting with a new job or trying to get new business, but generally work for all professionals. Many structured networking clubs are designed to provide leads for its members. Many structured groups like Business Networking International (BNI), will only allow one person per profession/industry in each “chapter” or subgroup. BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world. They offer members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, business referrals. BNI has brought businesses together all across the globe for over 24 Years! To know more about BNI you can mail at niraj@bni.com or visit its official website www.bni-india.com .
A major key to success when joining any group, whether online or offline is your continued participation and a willingness to give before you expect to receive. This is the only way to truly benefit from your experiences with your contacts.

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 2:10 am and is filed under General, Mukesh Dedhia's published articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.