If you ask Chad Snider what the secret to networking is, his response would be “Give First, Give More, Give Often”. If you want to build strong personal and professional relationships you need to bring something to the table that the other person needs. Anyone that has ever been to Gates BBQ can take a lesson from the first words you hear when you walk through the door – “Hi, may I help you?”.
We all know someone that is a taker. They are people who tend to take advantage of the generosity of others and withhold what they have to offer. For the most part they are not fun people to be around, they have a negative energy that effects even the most upbeat person. After a call or meeting with a person like this you almost feel drained. These are not people who you want working on your team.
When things get tough at work our instinct is to protect what is ours, to claim our territory and to give no quarter. This is a very normal and human reaction to stress or fear. I’m not saying that you automatically become a taker, but you need to teach yourself to react differently when your instincts tell you to start protecting your position. When the chips are down and everyone is scrambling for their piece real estate it is the real leaders who give their slice of the pie to someone else.
Let me give you an example of why giving something away works. Chad runs a company called Clear Marketing Design. He was asked to come to a meeting with a potential client that was struggling. They recognized a need for Clear Marketing and Chad’s ideas. He spent time with them shared his thoughts on how they could be more effective with their message. They liked what he had to say and had a second unpaid meeting where he shared more information and clarified some of their questions. Most companies charge for this service. After all, Chad’s “product” is his expertise and ideas. But Chad wanted to give first. And then he was willing to give more. His willingness to give himself away turned into a paid consulting gig which ultimately turned into a full time job with the organization.
If Chad had said “I’ll come talk to you and share my ideas – my rate is X” he may not have even got a meeting. If Chad didn’t bring value to the company (paid or unpaid) he would not have been asked back. Chad was willing to give his services away – with no expectations of getting something back. And because Chad was willing to give himself away someone wanted him on their team.
The next time you’re networking with someone ask this question – “How can I help you?”. Be sincere about wanting to help someone else get to where they want to go. It will make you feel good, it will make the other person feel good and you never know, it might lead to something that gets you where you want to go.
Give First. Give More. Give Often. It’s a great motto to live your life by.
[...] [...]
[...] [...]
[...] [...]