Yes ... it's all the same ... at least from my viewpoint. However, in the business world, you can't typically put on the sales report, "Went to a relationship building event. Or spent time at lunch on Thursday working on a relationship with _______, especially if it happened to be a person of the opposite sex. GASP! It doesn't sit well with others, even though it's what you are doing. Right? At least, that's how I perceive networking. So, with that in mind, I thought perhaps I should look up
Merriam Webster's definition.
He says: Networking is "the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or busines."
I suppose, yes, though, I really think it runs deeper than that ... it's more of a progression, perhaps in stages:
Networking 101: with a new person you typically go to lunch or meet at an after hours event, for example. There is typically small talk, maybe about the weather, introduce the name of your businesss, your title, your product, etc. It's sometimes awkward. Maybe you feel compelled to give your elevator pitch. And then, if you are in sales, especially, you can't help it, it comes spewing out! You give the sales pitch, all the numbers, all the product details. On the first "date"?? YIKES!!
Networking 201: introductory information was shared during Networking 101, so you are beyond that. Moving on. It gets more fun. You start learning more about the actual person. Who is he or she? Family? Married? Children? Career track? There is a real person behind the nametag and sales pitch! YAY!
The personal level:
Same scenario, lunch, after hours event, professional organization meeting, etc. Yes, small talk is usually part of it, as well as the normal introductions, finding out what each other does, if you don't already know ... your titles, if applicable, your products/services, if the topics come up, but maybe not.
What if you actually started by getting to know your clients or prospects or fellow networkers on a more personal level right from the get-go? That way, each time you saw them you would have something more to talk about. You wouldn't have to start with, "Wow, sure is a nice day, sure is cold/hot out there, sure is raining hard, etc., and so on. We've all done it. It's likely that you might even have something in common.
I'm working to be better at this myself. Not just asking the questions, but remembering the answers : ) Hobbies, kid's names, favorite beverages and foods, places travelled ... places they wish to travel, sports teams they like, the ones they don't ... why? The best part, really, is that it's all part of natural conversation.
So, start talking .... but more importantly .... start listening!! That is always the hardest and most valuable part of networking! Be more interested in the person/people in front of you, than in telling your own story. Eventually, someone will want to reciprocate and hear yours. The other part of networking ... it's a two-way street!!
Any networking tips you'd like to share?? What has worked for you? What hasn't? Would love to hear from you!!
LRigoni@PRwithPurpose.net or FB at Lisa Templeton Rigoni or @LisaRigoni on Twitter.
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Agritourism, authenticity, abundance ...
Fruits, veggies and tourism ... oh my ... and so much more!!
I have had the privilege of spending the last two days among some of Illinois' finest specialty and organic crop growers, folks who own and manage orchards, pumpkin farms, berry patches, wineries to name a few, plus tourism professionals who actively promote agritourism in our state. I would list all of the businesses and supporting organizations by name, as well as the tourism entities, but since my elbow continues to be in the healing mode, and the doctor said one of the main things I still can't do with the right hand is type/write, I'm doing the blog with my left hand. It would take forever, and more importantly, I would be afraid someone would be left out. At the end, I will give you a website or two as a reference point for going to find some of these fine places!
All this great connecting happened at the Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference during the annual conference held at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. It is one of my favorite events of the year, actually. I think that is in large part, due to the people who participate.
These business owners are authentic, down-to-earth, people who are passionate about their businesses, have wonderful stories to share and are willing to do just that. Often they are family-owned businesses, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th generation. You'll find everything from herb gardeners to vegetable farmers to apple orchard owners. In fact, yesterday, I was sitting at a table for lunch with two couples, one couple who has both vegetables and livestock had to leave, and then four men joined us, representing three different, family-owned apple orchards, and they were all laughing and talking together. The husband of the younger couple that was still sitting at the table mentioned that one day he'd like to include an orchard as part of his business (currently produces vegetables). Immediately, he was offered advice, tips, words of wisdom from the men in each of these established orchards. The enthusiasm for the giving and the receiving of the information created a level of high energy!
At the banquet, I sat at a table with a woman about my age whose job situation has changed. She is seriously contemplating getting into the field of vegetable growing. She came to the conference to absorb information. Without even having to ask, she was being introduced to people who could help her, given ideas of how to get started, invited to "come out to the farm" to see how others run their operation.
In going to this conference for the last four years, as a speaker on the agritourism marketing track this year and two years ago, and watching the natural interactions the attendees, and even the exhibitors have with one another, makes me want to see them with their customers in their element! I find that agritourism folks are easy to talk to, easy to get to know, easy to like! You want to visit their operations to learn more, see more, meet the rest of their families and employees, pet the animals, ride on the hay wagons, pick an apple ... red, green or yellow! Walk through the pumpkin patch and find the perfectly shaped, big, bold orange pumpkin that suits you! Let the sweet aromas of the bakeries tickle your nose and tease your tastebuds. You know what I'm talking about - apple pies, peach cobblers, donuts. Or maybe you prefer a nice bite of creamy fudge, the sweet taste of an ice cream cone or one of my favorites, an apple cider slushie!! Gonna add it to my list this year ... make a point to visit these places : ) Since many are seasonal businesses I'll have to check 'em all out and make a plan depending on the schedules.
Since writing/telling stories about people is really my favorite thing to do, maybe there's a project in the making here. I think I'll find a grant to allow me to write a book about all the family-owned agritourism businesses in Illinois. Could promote it in Illinois Country Living and local newspapers, through the various tourism outlets, etc. Wonder if any of the businesses would be interested in participating in that kind of a project, be willing to have me spend time at their site, with them, their employees, customers? I think I've got some research to do! How exciting!!! I love new ideas and I love the agritourism businesses!
Wanna find out more about who might have been at the conference? Go to: http://www.specialtygrowers.org. You'll find a list of ISGA members with links to their websites! Start making your plans to go visit their sites, it will add abundance to your life! Maybe I'll see ya there!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Lisa
I have had the privilege of spending the last two days among some of Illinois' finest specialty and organic crop growers, folks who own and manage orchards, pumpkin farms, berry patches, wineries to name a few, plus tourism professionals who actively promote agritourism in our state. I would list all of the businesses and supporting organizations by name, as well as the tourism entities, but since my elbow continues to be in the healing mode, and the doctor said one of the main things I still can't do with the right hand is type/write, I'm doing the blog with my left hand. It would take forever, and more importantly, I would be afraid someone would be left out. At the end, I will give you a website or two as a reference point for going to find some of these fine places!
All this great connecting happened at the Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference during the annual conference held at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. It is one of my favorite events of the year, actually. I think that is in large part, due to the people who participate.
These business owners are authentic, down-to-earth, people who are passionate about their businesses, have wonderful stories to share and are willing to do just that. Often they are family-owned businesses, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th generation. You'll find everything from herb gardeners to vegetable farmers to apple orchard owners. In fact, yesterday, I was sitting at a table for lunch with two couples, one couple who has both vegetables and livestock had to leave, and then four men joined us, representing three different, family-owned apple orchards, and they were all laughing and talking together. The husband of the younger couple that was still sitting at the table mentioned that one day he'd like to include an orchard as part of his business (currently produces vegetables). Immediately, he was offered advice, tips, words of wisdom from the men in each of these established orchards. The enthusiasm for the giving and the receiving of the information created a level of high energy!
At the banquet, I sat at a table with a woman about my age whose job situation has changed. She is seriously contemplating getting into the field of vegetable growing. She came to the conference to absorb information. Without even having to ask, she was being introduced to people who could help her, given ideas of how to get started, invited to "come out to the farm" to see how others run their operation.
In going to this conference for the last four years, as a speaker on the agritourism marketing track this year and two years ago, and watching the natural interactions the attendees, and even the exhibitors have with one another, makes me want to see them with their customers in their element! I find that agritourism folks are easy to talk to, easy to get to know, easy to like! You want to visit their operations to learn more, see more, meet the rest of their families and employees, pet the animals, ride on the hay wagons, pick an apple ... red, green or yellow! Walk through the pumpkin patch and find the perfectly shaped, big, bold orange pumpkin that suits you! Let the sweet aromas of the bakeries tickle your nose and tease your tastebuds. You know what I'm talking about - apple pies, peach cobblers, donuts. Or maybe you prefer a nice bite of creamy fudge, the sweet taste of an ice cream cone or one of my favorites, an apple cider slushie!! Gonna add it to my list this year ... make a point to visit these places : ) Since many are seasonal businesses I'll have to check 'em all out and make a plan depending on the schedules.
Since writing/telling stories about people is really my favorite thing to do, maybe there's a project in the making here. I think I'll find a grant to allow me to write a book about all the family-owned agritourism businesses in Illinois. Could promote it in Illinois Country Living and local newspapers, through the various tourism outlets, etc. Wonder if any of the businesses would be interested in participating in that kind of a project, be willing to have me spend time at their site, with them, their employees, customers? I think I've got some research to do! How exciting!!! I love new ideas and I love the agritourism businesses!
Wanna find out more about who might have been at the conference? Go to: http://www.specialtygrowers.org. You'll find a list of ISGA members with links to their websites! Start making your plans to go visit their sites, it will add abundance to your life! Maybe I'll see ya there!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Lisa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)