INSIGHTS ON LIFE

Intentional Networking

We have heard it repeated like a mantra that networking is one of the elements in the equation of success in life. People we know are assets to us, but people we network with are access for us.

Assets are possessions or resources available to us without use until we make them access for us. People are assets for you until the opportunity presents itself for them to become access to you.

Someone in your network becomes an access for you by happenstance or by intention. By happenstance, I mean, the out-of-the-blues opportunity of relying upon your knowing someone to bring about a desired effect.

1. For example, A has known Q for over 12 months. They communicate only once in a while – just mere acquaintances. Suddenly, either of them is in a situation where he has to make something happen, and, by scrolling through their phone contact, or by the remembrance of their subconscious mind, either one of them remembers that the other can be of help to the realization of the said goal. Contact is made, and something happens, or almost happens, or never happens. If something happens, good; but if something never happens it is because either the connect between both wasn’t strong enough or the other is not disposed at the moment to be of service.

People become access to you through intentional networking and this means taking the acquaintance to the next level of connect. Through checking up on the other meaningfully, however infrequent, the link between both is made stronger. Intentional connection with someone happens by seizing opportunities to place yourself right in front of their mind. For example, you come across their updates on social media, see someone like them on the road, remembers them while doing something totally unrelated to them; when you seize this moment to put a call across, send an email, or something else, that thread between you two strengthens. Always try to make mention of your business, by joke or seriousness, with the other. Let her know you’re still there making things happen. Know about them too, or at least pretend to know. People like the feeling of having interest on them. The more genuine your interest in them is, the better you last longer in their mind.

Some people play the connection game very stupidly. First, when they meet someone for the first time, they think about exploiting the other for themselves without any consideration for the interest of the other. If it is the opposite sex, rather than connect like mature individuals, they start thinking about possible sexual pleasure. Secondly, they talk too much about themselves and make the other person look like a dummy. People want to talk too; they have mouth. Thirdly, they want more share of the product of their connection; they want a 90/10 gain ratio with them having the lion share. When you want to keep a good business relationship with a network, give them the 50/50 win mentality; let them feel they won.Intentional networking takes into consideration the interest of the other, and listens to them genuinely. Don’t expect things to happen too soon. Strengthen the link between yourself and your connections. The reason you have them in your circle of network is because something can be produced out of such circle, now or in the future.

Stay wise. Stay intentional.

Victor Negro is based in Lagos. He writes on matters of life and existence as he thinks, preferring better understanding of common questions.