In her book Strategic Networking, Judy Robinett proposes a methodology to take advantage of the network of friends.
Improving the relationships that businesspeople establish for personal or professional reasons is the key to achieving professional success. In her book Strategic Networking, business specialist Judy Robinett explains that the chances of finding a job, getting promoted, closing a deal, or solving a problem are directly related to the quality of contacts in a person’s address book.
“No matter how successful we are, we all need help in one way or another,” the author explains in her post, who asserts that it is essential to have a network of “contacts who open the doors to other key people or who are able to touch the key that is most convenient at a given moment.”
But how do you build relationships with strangers? For many people, it is not easy to attend a meeting and have a friendly conversation with anyone who comes across them. It is clear that the entrepreneur will have to leave his comfort zone, take risks, and build solid connections of mutual benefit.
To achieve this, the specialist advises something as basic as changing the desk to a strategic place, perhaps where there are more people who are interesting and where conversations flow without much effort. A walk to the bathroom or a coffee shop is a good option.
The circles of power
Based on the premise that the quality of contacts is more important than the quantity and that it is more complex to maintain a daily relationship with 150 people than with five, Judy Robinett developed a method that she calls 5+50+100, the circles of power, in which she prioritizes the people with whom one has the most contact. The concept is categorized as follows:
- The top 5: These are the people closest to the businessman, with whom he communicates every day and to whom he entrusts his life.
- The 50 Fundamentals: Relationships that represent significant value in the professional’s life and in his company. He is aware of relationships and is always thinking about how to add greater value to them.
- The Vital 100: People with whom you communicate on a monthly basis. Highlighting mutual benefit is the key to maintaining closeness with these types of individuals.
Organizing your strategic relationships according to the 5+50+100 model will give you a sense of control and order that will make your life easier. However, you must evaluate your current relationships, select who is part of this circle and eliminate anyone who could cause you harm,” says the author of Strategic Networking.
Networking failures
The businesswoman and corporate leader also took on the task of identifying the five mistakes that all those who are beginning to create their “circle of power” make.
The first major mistake has to do with building networks in spaces that do not correspond to the needs of the entrepreneur. And it is that many times, in the eagerness to belong to a group, they forget that there are specialized circles that can offer much more value.
The second mistake is the creation of networks that will not allow them to meet the objectives set, since instead of living with people who have something to contribute, they end up socializing with individuals with lower intellectual capacity and little chance of success.
Networking is not about talking and making contacts at will. The author argues that the entrepreneur must have the ability to recognize the value of each person, as well as perfectly identify the support that this person will provide.
Error four has to do with the networking optimization system, that is, who has not happened to you that after attending an exhibition you arrive with your hands full of business cards and forget who was going to help you? Make sure you interact with the right people.
