Two faces of networking - The Two Faces of Networking by Safaraz Ali of Pathway2Grow Business Networking - dont be a Shy Simon or a Boisterous Betty

1. The Two Faces of
Networking

2. Is networking the best way for small
businesses to grow?
• Networking is the
process of:
 meeting people
 making connections
 building enduring
and mutually
beneficial
relationships

3. Good networking is an art
• As with any group
of people, there’ll
be a variety of
personalities;
some will get on
really well and
others will clash.
• Getting on with all
these types of
people is a skill.

5. The ‘Shy Simons’
• His contributions are what
he can get away with not
doing.
• His participation is
uncomfortable at best.
• He wants to produce
business, but he doesn’t
want to engage in it.

6. The ‘Shy Simons’
• He is a passive
attendee.
• He has come with
no clear plan, and
leaves as soon as he
can.

7. The ‘Boisterous Bettys’
• Everyone knows
Betty…yet nobody
particularly enjoys it
when she walks over.
• Betty fully engages with
her idea of networking.

8. The ‘Boisterous Bettys’
• She talks to
everyone with a
passion about her
area, but she
doesn’t listen to
theirs.
• She’s a deal closer
and sells at the
event.

9. Simon and Betty are two
classic networkers that
many of us have met.
They are extremes, or
caricatures, but we can
learn from them…

10. How can we do networking better?
• Networking
won’t get work
falling into your
lap.
• Nor is it
productive in
the long-term to
go for the hard
sell.

11. How can we do networking better?
Good networking etiquette is about a balance
between the two; a balance between
assertiveness and consideration.

12. It’s about listening
• Ask about their
business and find out
how you can help.
• Don’t presume a
problem and sell on
that basis.
• Listen first and then
you have them in your
memory if and when
you may have a
solution.

13. It’s about listening
• Follow up with them.
• Keep up with their
business activities
and what their
challenges might be.
• When you start
offering value by
networking with
people, that value will
eventually convert
into business.

14. Pathway2Grow: Network, Learn
and Grow
• A networking group that
listens and is for people
that may have never
attended networking
events before.
• Based around open no
pressured conversation
(we call them natters)
rather than elevator
pitches and staged
presentations.

15. Pathway2Grow: Network, Learn
and Grow
We are open to listening
and changing to the
needs of our business
community. If you want
to get involved, tweet
@SafarazAli or connect
with Safaraz Ali on
LinkedIn.