July 8, 2012

Networking and Building Relationships

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Networking is like planting trees. You plant them, love them, nurture them and take care of them. If all conditions of soil to weather are favourable, soon the tree will grow and start giving its benefits. Of course, there are possibilities that it may not survive even after how much you care. Or it may give you a different result than what you had in mind. 

But the fact is that there is no apple, without an apple tree! If you need to enrich your firm with successful projects, ‘PEOPLE’ can only build this path for you. Network, in a business world, is also simply known as ‘business circle’. It may consist of your relatives, friends, friends, clients, employees, associate consultants, suppliers, contractors, industrialists, politicians and many others. These can be people with diverse backgrounds and professions. It is not enough to visit a networking group, talk to dozens of people and gather as many business cards as possible. However, every networking function has tremendous potential for new business leads. Today two main platforms are available for creating business network. i.e. Digital and Personal 
Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In and Other popular websites, are a good resource for building and maintaining business relationships.

Personal and Professional network can be built by actively participating into groups, such as,
1. Group of friends /relatives
2. Professional groups
3. Chamber of commerce
4. Community groups
5. Cultural groups
6. Hobby groups
7. Religious groups
8. Political group
9. Social service groups
10. Alumni
11. Neighbourhood
12. Office Team / employees 
Architects like to design. And most of the time they like to stay around their design studio. But it’s time to come out of your comfortable studio chair and start meeting people personally. Wider the network; higher the benefit. But it also means more time and energy. So, remember to keep your network limited to your reach. As a small design firm, you are more likely to benefit from a small network with strong relationships rather than a large net with just a huge pile of business cards. 

Here are some tips garnered from my own experiences that may help:
Do’s
Don’ts
  1. Get out of your design studio and meet people personally.
  2. Be active in business groups like the chamber of commerce, association of young entrepreneurs, engineer’s   associations, etc.
  3. Make a constructive use of social networking websites to form new business contacts.
  4. Be confident, cheerful and fun-loving. People will admire your company.
  5. People tend to forget the names and the context of the new people they meet. Immediately write a small letter/note via email after you meet a new person. He/she will remember you for a longer period.
  6. Follow-up.
  7. Always be ready to offer your help, people will remember and appreciate you with gratitude.
  1. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Don’t go unprepared in any events. Try to collect the information about participants, speakers, influential people etc.
  2. Don’t start selling in the first meeting.
  3. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
  4. Don’t spend too much time only, with your friends; meet new people from different fields.
  5. Don’t stick with the group if you are not enjoying. The aim is to be happy and make others also enjoy your company.
  6. Don’t stare but keep an eye contact.
  7. Don't limit yourself to your area. Look outside your area and attend seminars, exhibitions, conferences and events.

Building network may sound like a task with too much effort and time. But, once you start doing it, you will find yourself enjoying it. Every new person you will encounter is going to contribute in some or the other way in building a fresh perspective towards your future. 



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