Whether you are running a business or developing your career, networking is essential to building and maintaining business relationships. Effective networking takes practice and preparation, but moreover it takes patience.
Tom Farley, President of the NYSE, stated in Fortune Magazine, “Networking is about collecting relationships with interesting or influential people irrespective of the immediate benefit of these relationships.” I wholeheartedly agree. Often the time, energy, stress and money we put into going to non-profit galas, Chamber of Commerce celebrations, leadership functions and business grand openings are dismissed as a waste of time and a burden on your social and family calendars. But I truly believe that coordinating networking opportunities at least once or twice a month is a great investment in your future.
Investing your time and effort in networking should be an essential part of your job. It’s important to remember that networking is not selling, but rather it’s opening the door to new opportunities. Look at the big picture: networking is more like running a marathon than sprinting. With patience, preparation and smart execution, the dividends of business networking will benefit you and your business.