Whether NARTS Conference or your local Chamber of Commerce, we all need to network. If not with our resale peers, then with other business people in our community, a social group at our place of worship, a family reunion… and it can be intimidating. This article was one of my Grow Your Biz columns in the NARTS newsletter. We now have a collection of the best of those columns, available in the TGtbT.com Build your Shop Products Collection

Networking. Notice how “working” is the action part of that word. It does take work to network…and it’s the kind of work that you, whether you know it or not, love.

Think about it. What do you love most about your shop? That you get to meet, talk to, know, and share with people. You love to network. 

But still, walking into a room of strangers can be a bit intimidating. Let’s talk about our greatest “fears” of networking.

What’s networking?
It’s just discovering and developing working relationships with those you can turn to in time of need, and with those who you might be able to help. It’s learning that Julie from Joplin is a whiz at dealing with large consignments or Terry from the local florist is an ad-writing genius.
Networking is all about making business friends.

I hate to walk up to strangers, so how can I network?
Forget the word stranger. The people at this gathering might be people you don’t know yet but they’re certainly not strangers to the concerns and goals that you have. Every businessperson has been through, or will be going through, everything you have.
They’re not strangers, they’re business peers you just haven’t introduced yourself to yet.

Yeh, yeh, but how can I work up the courage to walk up to someone and introduce myself?
Feeling like a wallflower? Remember:
* Arrive early. It’s easier to start a conversation in a room with just a few people. By the time everyone else gets there, you’ll already have a core of acquaintances to introduce others to.
* Approach someone who looks like they feel the same way you do. A singleton watching the room will welcome your conversation.
* Make eye contact. A warm smile works like a magnet, attracting people to you.

Many times, meeting someone new is as simple as saying hello when you’re standing in line, taking a seat at a workshop or meal or social event.

What’s the best way to goof up networking?
Clustering with co-workers or people you already know will kill the benefits of networking you could be enjoying. You can talk back home! Your job at Conference is to make new connections. Balance the time you naturally want to spend with old friends with time developing new ones. If you breakfast with old buddies, sit on the bus with new folks.
Your chances of meaningful education increase with every new person you talk with.

Observe the niceties.
No one ever failed by being too polite: offer your business card and read theirs when it’s offered. Use their name often in the conversation. Welcome someone standing at the edges of your conversation into your circle. Introduce those you’ve just met to others. Sit with someone new every time you can.
Ask them about themselves more than you talk about yourself. Answer thoughtfully questions you are asked.

No one ever got snubbed by smiling and saying hello.
Once you have said something as simple as hello, it will be easier to open a conversation later. And if you do feel snubbed, take the high road. Assume they just didn’t hear or see you and try again another time.
There is no such thing as too friendly when you are networking.

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