ArtiLib Article Library By Tag Author Index Submit Article Login Suggestions
Bookmark and Share

What is Networking and Why Do We Need This Simple, Fundamental Business Skill

Networking is a very simple process that is fundamental in growing our businesses and even in improving our life. But we make it complicated and create obstacles for ourselves.

By: Jaison William
Category: Business:Management
Posted: Dec 26, 2011
Updated: Dec 26, 2011
Views: 21


Networking is a fundamental business and life skill. It is the ongoing process of building and developing an interconnected web of mutually beneficial relationships. In other words, you meet people and build some kind of relationship with them, whether it's a deep friendship or occasional business contact. You strengthen relationships by communicating with people, providing them with things they need, finding common interests, and doing things together. The relationship is cemented when the other person finds a way to help you in the form of information, support, or business referrals. It is a cycle of actions, interactions, and follow-up.

As you repeat this process with more and more people, you will have an ever-expanding pool of contacts that you know, have done things for, and can count on them to help you in return. You will be at different stages with different people. Relationships will grow stronger, wane and perhaps end, but an experienced networker will have a net growth in their base of close "friends" and in the sheer number of people they have interacted with.

Not every contact will be a friend, but most of them should be friendly. You may have members of your network who you are not friends with and may not even like, but because you have done something for them, they are willing to reciprocate. The tie will be stronge and more reliable if you have a personal relationship. A non-friendly relationship is only there as long as you can do something for each other.

This process is called "networking". The result of it is your "network", a group of people you have some level of reciprocal relationship with.

It's a very simple series of activities. Go places, meet people, interact with them, and keep track of who, what, where when. That's it. Simple stuff. So why is it so hard for us to start networking or to do it consistently? Because it's easy to not do. Today's business environment is complicated and our daily lives are over-booked, over-stressed, and over-analysed. We find ourselves resisting networking because we are overwhelmed. We've overthought the process until it seems like a hopeless complication, not a vital activity that will benefit us now and will compound over time.

If we return to the foundation of networking - a simple process of building relationships - we'll find ourselves more willing to get started and keep going. Take a few minutes each day to find a way to take simple step forward in any relationship you currently have. Find a way to expand your current contacts just one person at a time. By not overwhelming ourselves with a complicated process, we can grow our network and build our businesses.

MeetingWave's core mission is to help you meet new clients. For more information about what is business networking or meet people online. visit www.meetingwave.com.

Contact Author




Disclaimer: Article submitters are solely responsible for the content of their articles.
ArtiLib can't be held liable for the contents of the articles.   Report Abuse

Browse By Category
Contact ArtiLib| Privacy Policy| Terms of Service