10 Networking and Leaderships Lessons by Jennifer Gluckow

An except from a post by Jennifer Gluckow from her Sales In a New York Minute blog regarding networking and leadership lessons:

1. Assume positive. When networking, always assume the best about a person first. What you assume will have a major impact on your thoughts, your words, your tone, your body language, your actions, your ideas and through positive assumption, you create opportunity. Positive is Powerful.
2. Genuine Giving. Giving first without expectation is how you will win. No “measuring.” No “you owe me one.” Try it. It will make you feel good to give, and at some point, you will receive way more than you’ve given. You don’t have to think about it, one day it just shows up.
3. Enroll Help. If you’re managing a team, whether they’re volunteers or employees, you’ll need to attract them, engage them, and enroll them into your idea(s). Inspire them to take action on your idea, and make it easy for them to say yes by showing them how they will benefit.
4. Real Friendships. The best and most powerful kind of networking creates lifelong friendships. While you may not go into it with that as your goal, if you do it right (assume positive, give first, and are perceived as genuine ), you will create lifelong friendships.
5. Presentation Experience. I got to present in front of an audience every week for more than two years. With 100 presentations under my belt, I got IMMEASURABLE experience that will further my career forever. Ask yourself this: what kind of presentation experience are you getting monthly? Weekly? Daily? Whether you’re in sales or you own the company, you’ll need to have GREAT presentation skills to become a valuable person in your network or company.
6. Leadership Experience. Navigating political fires, “hiring” or enrolling volunteers and “firing” or asking volunteers to step down when they aren’t able to do their job well, delegating with proper instruction and expectations, all provided experience and lifelong lessons that I could immediately use in my career and my life. The best thing I did was cut the fluff. Just be straightforward with people about what’s going on, what needs improvement and where they’re performing well. People respect honesty especially when they know it’s coming from a good place with the intent to help them grow and improve. KEY POINT OF UNDERSTANDING: Don’t insult. Do encourage and compliment.
7. Making a Meeting Exciting. Create a meeting that people want to be present for and go to again. Not HAVE to go, rather WANT to go. Make it fun, offer ways for attendees to add humor, don’t be too strict or serious, don’t be condescending or self-serving. Be laid-back, happy, enthusiastic, friendly, and engaging. By adding meeting themes and surprise items to the agenda, you can keep it fresh. Music can add a great mood booster especially with early morning meetings. Play rock.
8. Building Community. Successful networking requires a powerful community. But great communities don’t just pop up out of nowhere. You have the power to create them by offering value, finding like-minded people, like-attitude people, and having a fun environment for people to connect. Make sure you are socially connected to EVERYONE in your network, give them consistent value messages, and that Number 9 (next) is always on your mind.
9. Introduce “Bob to Mary” (be a yenta). Your goal at a networking meeting is not just to say hello and introduce YOURSELF, it’s to introduce people you meet to others. At a BNI meeting I made certain that no visitor was left alone. When I meet someone I find out who they are a guest of (to build rapport), and what they do, so I can figure out who I know (in or out of the room) that can help them. You have to do this individually. And always must be thinking, who can I introduce them to? Someone who is just starting a business can be introduced to a business coach. I meet a professional – a lawyer, an accountant, and I know a digital marketing agency that can help them grow their business, or maybe someone looking for legal help or a CPA. Become the connecter and you win. You win helping others win.
10. The courage to walk away to the next adventure. When you’re in a rhythm, in the groove, experiencing success, building friendships, and confident in your shoes, it’s hard to stop, and even harder to walk–away. Whether it’s romance or business, sometimes you have to take a time out and a step back and assess where you are, where you’re going, what you’re investing your time in, and where it’s leading you.