RECEIVING

How do you ask contacts to introduce you to people they know?

Tell them why you want to meet the people. Remember, contacts are looking for Relationship Capital. Determine how your contacts earns Relationship Capital by introducing you. Making them look good, recommend them. There’s no need to mention that you intend to reciprocate. You’ll make it sound like you’re “buying” a favor. Reciprocation is natural anyway. Networkers know to get help from their networks taken from a whole, and not to expect it from you specifically. When introductions are make, keep in mind that a networking loop has been created.

How do you ask contacts to refer your products or services to people they know?

To be an effective messenger, a contact must hold your product or service in high regard. They must understand it well. While referral fees are sometimes involved, a good networker is watching out for the Relationship Capital that he or she can earn by recommending your services, rather than the monetary gain. And, remember, you’re creating a networking loop.

How do you ask contacts to help you find a better position?

Most people will say “if you hear of any jobs let me know”. That’s not the best way to use your networking resources. Contacts must understand your needs. Have your resume. Ask for suggestions of who they know who can help you. You’re creating a networking loop.

How do you ask to join a contact’s project or organization?

During the course of networking, it’s common to encounter contact’s projects or organizations? where you feel you’re a good fit. When the circumstance present itself, simply suggest yourself as an ideal candidate. Don’t submit a resume unless asked or you’ll run the risk of converting the relationship to an employer-applicant status. If your overture is not accepted, don’t let it affect the relationship. The contact may be looking at the Relationship Capital implications of your involvement. He or she may prefer to keep the relationship at arms length, so don’t take it as a rejection.

How do you ask contacts to offer you advice?

As a rule, people enjoy giving advice. Keep the request on a business level. Make it concise and to the point, but provide sufficient facts to help the advisor form an intelligent answer. Asking for advice can reveal information about you that an advisor might find beneficial in building his or her Relationship Capital.

What do you do when a contact doesn’t buy your product or service?

Accepted networking ethics prohibits members from soliciting business from one another, so any request to buy your products must come from contacts without benefit of a sales spiel. You can overcome this to an extent by networking with people who are willing to refer your products to others while also being in the position to buy it themselves.

On a different level, a contact may be affected by the Relationship Capital implications of buying your product. He or she may prefer to keep the relationship at arms length, so don’t take a failure to buy as a rejection of the relationship itself.