As professional networkers, we have heard the phrase, and the know the importance of the meet in greet. This, one could say, is the space at which industry professionals gather for the flow and exchange of backgrounds, goals, ideas, services. The more you engage in networking however, the more you will encounter not just those who attend events to participate in a meet and greet-- but those solely to meet and fleet!
What is the meet and fleet? The meet and fleet is the
networking equivalent of a hit and run.
Who commits this crime... you may be pondering? It is the
networker single-mindedly obsessed with outcome. It is the networker
haplessly willing to sidestep the integral stage of care and connection, in
pursuit of capital gain. It is the
networker inflicted with the business epidemic called "Outcome
Obsession". It is the business
bully.
Business bullies are bad news. The bullies regard rapport and
connection-cultivating engagements as quick and intentional as
speed-dating. In the absence of
"worth it" gains, bullies treat networking opportunities as
meaningless and pointless experiences. Additionally,
"I want it now" sales mentality fails to understand the buying cycle
and the value of delayed rewards. Too great of urgency is a turn off in the
networking arena, and without mutual interest, need or desire, it registers as
desperation.
Networkers and entrepreneurs, of yesterday, today and tomorrow, I am here to
tell you that these practices will always be regrettable in business. The function of networking is NOT to only
find business. Rather, this mindset is
the fastest road to missed opportunities, and more important; missed
meaning.
Edited by Robin Brooke
For more information
on networking, follow-up, and building healthy business relationships, see my
article, How To Conquer The 3 Most Common Networking
Concerns – Pushy, Perfection, Possibly NO and visit MySalesTactics.com Just remember: fast and furious networking
leads to futile networking!
