Business networking lessons for big organisations
I have a confession to make...
I reached 10 years in business without enjoying any kind of business networking.
I used to think networking was really cliquey. I thought it was for formal corporate types and, a bit like Fort Knox, hard to infiltrate. Networking was something I didn’t like doing and actively shied away from.
That was until I discovered Circle Networking (other business networks are available!) in 2021. A connection at the Federation of Small Businesses recommended the group and convinced me to try it. At the time, the meetings were all online. I thought I’d give it a go. After all, it’s much easier to back out of an online meeting!
How wrong I was.
Joining the group has been an awesome experience and a valuable decision. I’ve made new friends, learned about businesses and roles I never knew existed, and I’ve made rewarding connections with people who can help me in my business.
Notice I haven’t mentioned anything about finding new clients through the group. More on this later.
Why business networking is awesome
Networking is a great place to meet new friends
I love to meet new and inspiring people and I had no idea how many awesome people I would get to meet whilst networking. I now have a whole new circle of friendship.
Access to people you would never meet through your day to day work
It’s an opportunity to learn about peoples’ roles and build a bank of credible and diverse connections. Personally, I’ve met and benefited from people with skills who have helped to develop Zest for Life, including public speaking, health and wellbeing and social media.
You’ll meet people that can be useful resources for other people
It gives you a real buzz when you introduce two people with similar wants and needs and they really hit it off. I often meet people and think, ‘oh they would be a really good fit for XX’, so I connect them and I’m thrilled when they discover the mutual benefits of working together.
You meet people who can support you in your own business
This is a big one for me. Through networking I met Stephanie Humphries, a virtual PA who now provides administrative support to Zest for Life. Having her skills on board is a game-changer for me. I detest typing and Stephanie transforms my voice notes, scribbles and other paperwork into beautiful, legible documents.
As a recent example, she typed up a big pile of facilitators notes for me to speed up Zest for Life’s Institute of Hospitality Endorsement application. I’ll definitely be using her services again. In fact, I’m already compiling a list of tasks she can support me with to improve our client experience.
Business networking benefits huge corporations
Networking isn’t a small business activity. There are benefits for organisations of all sizes.
If big organisations realised how many amazing people there are out there to help with projects, leaders would be much less stressed. It can work out to be more efficient and cost effective than employing someone directly.
Networks are a great place to discover services you can access on demand whenever you need them, such as consultancy, legal advice, HR and recruitment support, independent coaches and mentors, and training and development programmes.
Most people running small businesses or working for themselves have 10 or even 20 years’ experience working in private or public sector organisations. What business wouldn’t want to tap into this level of knowledge and experience?
A huge lesson in Know, Like, Trust
There’s a common phrase in networking that people do business with those they know, like and trust. This resonates strongly with me as trust is a key theme in all Zest for Life’s Exceptional Development programmes.
When trust exists between business and customer or employee, this breeds loyalty. And we know that loyal customers are more likely to pay return visits, leave glowing reviews, and tell all their friends and family about us.
It works exactly the same way in business networking. We get to know people, connect with those we like, and develop respect, understanding and trust. Once trust exists, the referrals and recommendations follow.
My experience of business networking has taught me a big lesson. It’s not about corporate types passing business cards and doing the hard sell on everyone in the room. It’s about making friends, building relationships, listening to people and building trust. In fact, networking is more closely aligned to Zest for Life’s values than I ever thought possible.