Networking is a Four Letter Word

Many of us hate networking. You may still be reading this only because the headline is a lie. Networking isn't really a four letter word. But 'tool' is—and thinking of networking as a tool can help you be more successful at it.

Just because you'd rather clean the office restroom with a toothbrush than go to a networking event doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, and it doesn't mean your networking has to be formal. After all, networking is about creating reciprocal, beneficial relationships that can result in new customers, new partnerships and new knowledge.

We're talking face-to-face networking here, and that means leaving someone else in charge and getting out of the office, or the store or the car. And do what? Here are a few ideas:

• Go meet your local librarian. Your library is filled with a remarkable wealth of resources for small business owners. And your librarian knows a lot of people and is good at connecting them.
• Look up from your work and see what's going on in your community. Who's making news? Where are they? What are they doing? There's a leadership concept focused on managing by walking around—try building relationships with other business leaders this way.
• Use social networking to build in-person professional contacts. Start with a local 'meetup' group focused on your interests and goals http://smallbiz.meetup.com/. Meetups are offline (in-person) gatherings of people who have a common interest, and often that interest is business.

Networking is a tool that's worth your time. And meeting someone face-to-face makes you so much more memorable than any 'like' or 'tweet' can accomplish. (Manta.com)

---