Empathetic Networking for Success

One of the core concepts we use in my networking is to help fellow networkers whether they are members or guests become self-aware when networking.

Self-awareness in business is like a guiding light – it gently illuminates and helps you to recognise and understand thoughts, feelings, emotions and behaviours. It means understanding the impact of your past experiences on your current self and that others are possibly making a decision about you based on this.

It’s a wonderful journey of self-discovery and a powerful tool for gaining highly valued referrals and recommendations. It aids personal growth because it shines a light on the behaviour patterns that play out in our lives; it helps us to challenge and change them when networking with others.

Self-awareness in networking helps you to:

• Explore measurable results by recognising how your past encounters and lost sales can influence your present conversations.

• Identify your emotions more accurately, which is key to understand why you feel the way you do when prospecting, selling, presenting or generally around people.

• Encourage you to take an honest look at yourself without judgement, which can lead to huge shifts and meaningful change when you are looking at others around you.

• Make stronger decisions about your recommendations and long-term goals and results.

• Take responsibility over your outcomes, behaviour and how you respond to networking life positively and thrive around others.

  
  

Member M was fully convinced that he wasn’t good enough at networking environment, that his network is too small and therefore he didn’t matter.

Exploring that with some questions:

1. ‘Has anyone ever criticized you at networking?’

2. ‘Can we look at what prompted that thought?’

3. 'What emotions do you feel when you believe that?

   
   

   The fact is that believing that he is not good enough was a thought he was having and once he became aware of that thought, he was able to adapt, which then completely changed his actions and behaviour. His networking became a wonderful journey through his time at the clubs.

   Being empathetic helps you discover your own skills. It is during this journey that you are able to hear others and learn from their expertise and eventually build advocates.

We look forward to hearing your experiences in networking and self-awareness, hit reply and let us know.