I have often heard it quoted that "your network is your net worth" and this is also the title of a book by Porter Gale.
In the past I have been a serial networker and have attended hundreds of meetings. I am now more selective on the meetings I attend and to quote another speaker - I have moved from hunting to farming. I now look for places that I can grow long term relationships with people who are either likeminded or different to me so that I can grow.
My steps to choosing a meeting involve looking at the following criteria;
- What is the intention of the group?
- What is the target audience?
- How long has the group been in existence?
- What are the calibre and loyalty of the members?
- What is the frequency of the meeting?
- What can I contribute to the growth of the group?
- These questions enable me to determine whether I should invest my precious time in this event or if I should do something else.
I am looking for groups that have a fixed purpose that I can relate to, have people with whom it would be mutually valuable to meet up with, has a depth of experience and will not vanish before my eyes, has a regular and vibrant membership that I can build relationships with, meets at least bi-monthly if not more frequently and will allow me to be a contributor to the greater good of the group.
Such groups do exist and I relish my membership of them.
Call to action - Review your networking strategy and see if it needs any alteration. Let me know how you get on.
