Are you engaging in 1, 2 or 3-dimensional networking?
1-dimensional networking
Are you only reaching out to others you are likely to do business with?
This sounds like a sensible approach – but how well does it actually work in practice?
How often do you meet for coffee (with a great prospect), and although you develop a great rapport, nothing comes from it?
Usually, you agree that no business can be immediately transacted
So, you also agree you will each lookout for good prospects for each other
However, after 4 more coffee meetings that week you can hardly remember the first person!
And very occasionally, the other person does actually refer you (but not advocate for you) or you refer them.
You are not meeting regularly so there is little chance to build a Know-Like-Trust relationship with the other person – right?
Sound familiar?
Hard slog?
2-dimensional networking
Are you proactively expanding your Know-Like-Trust relationships?
In effect, this means meeting people (you don’t know very well (or at all) and working out how to build trust by regularly meeting with them and adding value to them.
What is your way of doing this at the moment? Is it taking too much time?
Are you bringing those people into an environment which encourages them to do the same – or are you the only one beating that drum?
3-dimensional networking
Are you systematically, interacting with others who also building 2-dimensional networks so that you can advocate for people in your network to people in their network?
