Ideas For Mom Entrepreneurs: The Best Way To Keep Connected To Your Network
September 2nd, 2010
As a working mother, you may already really feel overwhelmed, juggling twin tasks of labor and family. When it comes to networking – yet one more task – you may feel that “the time I’ve spent at networking has never actually paid off.”
Creating a private [and professional] community is essential to your work + life success. That’s why working mothers need to strategy networking with a special paradigm, explained under as a 3-half process.
Relationship Constructing
Networking isn’t nearly accumulating business cards from people you suppose might assist you. It’s about planting seeds and nurturing long-term relationships that mature over time.
As a mom, it’s possible you’ll understand this process well as a result of it calls upon the same nurturing abilities you already use along with your family.
Empowering Actions
What number of times have you ever attended networking occasions and seen others jabber on about themselves and frantically hand out dozens, if not hundreds, of their cards? This frenetic strategy only makes them look weak. As a working mother, draw on that “Mommy” authority to engage in empowering, networking actions.
They embrace:
* Give – Undertake a giving attitude. Once you meet somebody ask, “How can I help you?” Always think, “Who might I connect them with to help them meet their goals?” It’s a pure precept: The extra you assist others, the extra others will help you.
* Ask – Be bold. All the time suppose, “you never know what’s going to occur” and “it’s price a try.” If you happen to meet a brand new contact and find you’ve gotten an immediate connection, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
* Observe up – Getting launched to the “proper” individuals is important, but it surely’s what you do after the introduction that really counts. If you’ve felt a reference to a brand new contact, telephone, e-mail or ship a thank-you observe inside one or days. Then, keep up a correspondence periodically, even when just to say, “Hi, it’s been awhile…”
Efficient Use of Time
You may be considering, “I’d like to stay connected with people, however I just don’t have the time.” Listed below are 3 ways to effectively find time to community:
* Lunch Hours – I’ve historically used my lunch hour, a coveted ME time, to run errands, stroll a mile or or get my hair or nails done. Yet, many associations and groups schedule networking meetings during this time. So, I began so as to add networking lunches. It’s a great way to preserve early-morning and night household hours by substituting networking lunches for breakfast conferences or night mixers!
* “Espresso/lunch over the phone” – My enterprise associate, Jo Della Penna, launched me to the thought of networking by scheduling “coffee over the phone”. What a great thought! This is a extra efficient option to meet. Plus, neither occasion has to spend money on driving time. Whenever you want to spend time with a colleague, attempt a relaxing “lunch over the telephone” by scheduling a lunch appointment, packing a lunch that day and calling on the appointed time.
* Schedule in advance – Earmark your calendar to remind your self to re-connect with a contact periodically. Should you meet a brand new contact as we speak, schedule the observe up name for 2 days later and plan a “check-in” e-mail inside 60 days.
Bear in mind, the key to networking is building a relationship over time. By using the steps above it’s best to succeed at establishing good relationships that empower you and what you are promoting, and but, don’t use hours and hours of your time.
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