If you think that business networking is only about finding clients, think again
Here’s the thing, there are several reasons you might want to attend a business networking, and while finding clients is a possible reason, it is potentially short-sighted if you don’t mind the bluntness of this
Let me share a concept with you before we go into other reasons to network at a business event
Business Networking 101: Hunters versus Farmers
You may or may not have heard of this concept before yet it might be good to refresh your understanding
In both sales and business networking, there is the Hunter’s Approach, and the Farmer’s Approach
If you think of a hunter actively going out to hunt for food, while the farmer is patiently growing and nurturing the crops for food, that is a very simple metaphor to understand the sales and networking aspect as well
Hunters go out to look for new customers and clients, in a potentially perceived aggressive manner (think cold calls, prospecting etc)
In a business networking event, they might be the ones exchanging namecards and contacts for the quick potential opportunity, without getting to know the people they are meeting that day, pushing that to another day if it happens
Naturally, if you have attended business networking events before and encounter such people, you might have a negative perception of business networking events (which we may cover in more detail another time)
On the other hand, farmers focus on building relationships and connections first
They might be the ones who only exchange a handful of namecards and contacts, however they take the time to understand you and your business in order to see whether there is potential for collaborations and business partnerships
Such relationships may gather more business referrals in the future for them!
Now of course to be fair, there may be times we may need to adopt a more hunter approach, and other times we need to adopt a farmer approach
What reasons do I want to attend a business networking event?
Let’s look at some of the possible reasons to attend a business networking event although a couple of them you might have already figured out based on the above
- to find a suitable business relationship – finding someone that you can collaborate with may not be easy however if you are able to find such a business relationship to share business or refer clients to each other, you will allow both of you to grow much more easily. Naturally this is easier if both business are complimentary and able to assist each other, instead of a outright competitor.
- to find a potential business partner – imagine if you found someone who shares the same dream with you and you both decide to partner up to start a new business together. Granted you may also be able to find such partners among your friends, but not everyone will have a group of friends who either share the same dream, or share the same entrepreneurship mindset.
- to find a mentor – this is especially huge! you won’t know who you might meet at a business networking event and if you manage to connect with a well experienced businessman, and able to click well, you may be able to learn a few things from him or her! Even if you didn’t, you can also learn from other industries on interesting ideas which you may be able to apply in your own business too.
- to connect with like-minded individuals – similar to the above, finding people who share similar beliefs such as a positive mindset might allow the group to support each other and encourage each other. It doesn’t mean to actively patronize each other’s businesses, but being able to problem solve and bounce ideas with someone, or being able to share with someone who can understand your business woes helps a lot.
- to find work or a job – you’ll be surprised how many fresh graduates might attend a business networking in the hopes to get connected to a good company for a role that they want. Essentially, if you are looking to expand and not getting enough job applicants, you can also potentially get some of them through a business networking event.
As you can see, you don’t have to limit yourself to just finding clients at a business networking event, you can the potential to grow in a few ways with each event you attend
How can you enhance your experience in networking events?
Generally speaking, if everyone were to attend a business networking event with a farmer’s approach, to get to know each other a bit better, to be patient and take it easy, business networking will have a more positive feel and good energy wouldn’t it?
When you attend such networking events, go with an open mind, because you have no idea who you will meet or what to expect. You might meet a sommelier or a clown, a restaurant owner or a fengshui master! And perhaps someone they know might need your help, or you might realize you didn’t know you need their service for a particular function~
To further enhance your experience, you can set a certain goal in mind, perhaps you want to network with an editor for a magazine because you want a chance at being interviewed, or you want to network with cafe owners because you are looking at interesting spaces to run a collaborative event there
Have a bit of fun, as if you are there to make friends. The energy you give off will be warm and welcoming and since like attracts like, you are more likely to attract warm and positive people at such networking events too!
Know your boundaries, and this might be an important note. If someone approaches you and you don’t feel good with this person, or this person seems to have an ulterior motive which is uncalled for, know your boundaries, politely decline or make an excuse to leave, and network with someone else instead. Safeguard your energy and spend it with the right people when you network for a more positive and enriching experience!
To keep things simple, be who you want to meet at a business networking event! May this help you to find more positive networking events and encounter like-minded individuals to build a support group or form good relationships for the future. Cheers!
