More Interactions To Start Relationships

from the desk of Ron Sukenick

Networking is a process that uses the Magic of Six. Before we can go beyond networking, we need to learn how to turn each part of the process into an interaction, by adding the crucial extra touches that have the power to propel networkers "into the beyond".

In my earlier blog post I talked about meeting someone for the first time, and turning that meeting into an interaction through focused, other-directed listening, using the three magic words "Tell Me More!".

Then, for the followup e-mail, I talked about creating interaction through sharing a special news item or piece of information relating specifically to the contact's work or personal life. As part of arranging a meeting, I suggested interaction through formulating a specific idea you think can benefit you both and conveying your excitement about that in the e-mail.

Now it becomes time for the actual meeting with the person. And it's exactly at this point in the process that you and your new networking "buddy" come to the proverbial "fork in the road". You might lapse into traditional networking mode. In that mode, each of you understands that you're coming together to achieve your individual goals. Each of you offers leads, perhaps even referrals to the other. Each gains more information about the other's target market and way of operating, but when all is said and done, no real connection has been created.

Alternately, you can choose to move beyond networking into NetBeing. This is where you truly begin to interact, as you and your new business friend discover and reach towards collaborative goals, goals that you both understand could not possibly be achieved by either without the other. You will then have gone beyond networking to create a synergy where the result is more than the sum of the parts.

In traditional networking you would typically thank your new networking friend for taking the time to meet with you. The last part of the networking process consists of staying in touch. Let's talk about saying thank you and about staying in touch. First of all, with today's technology, there are more ways to stay in touch than ever before - we've got online thank you notes, videos on our websites, fax machines, cell phones, text messaging, and chat rooms, any or all of which could be used to say thank you and stay in touch.

Now, going beyond networking doesn't mean ignoring all the wonderful technology at our disposal. What it does mean is finding a way, in every communication, to go deeper, to be more personalized, to create interaction.. Nowadays we have powerful binoculars that help us see so much more, powerful amplifiers to help us hear from further away, but it's still up to us to notice, and to give importance to the precious things we're seeing and hearing from other human beings.


Turning the process of traditional Networking into The Magic of Six Interactions means - getting personal!