by Kathy Condon
Why is it that computer networking is considered a wonderful relief, while people networking is the dreaded “duty” of the administration or staff?
Let’s look at an office as a laboratory. First of all there was an empty space or someone had an office built to her specifications. The office is to be the shell that holds the beginnings of a new company. Perhaps, there are only one or two people at the moment. As a member of this team, your job description is anything and everything that needs to be done at the moment from helping develop a budget, to answering a phone to keeping the bathroom clean.
It seems you have done your research well. Your hunch was right, there is a strong need for your service. You are thrilled and the phone starts to ring. Meetings are starting to be on your schedule daily and before you know it you are in meetings most of the day. Your co-owner is busy with handling the clients that you had when you opened the office. Now paper is piling up and you can see it is time to hire an assistant. He can keep the office flowing, answer the phone and keep the bathroom clean.
Great, now you can have the new employee handle your schedule. You were never very good at that anyway. Perhaps, they will keep you on a better timeline—you keep running your meetings overtime now.
At this point the three computers in your office are running independently. They are not networked. (For the novices reading this, that means they are not connected so that information from one computer can be accessed from the other.) Your new assistant has your schedule in his computer. You have your schedule in your computer—like when you are going to surprise your spouse with dinner at a fine restaurant because of his/her support in this new venture. Your spouse just knows they were to arrange the babysitter for a specific time and date.
You come to work with a bounce for you know it is going to be a great day and you are excited about the evening. Then you talk with Frank, your assistant, and go over the day’s agenda. Frank says “Oh, yes, I have made reservations at ______ for you at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Wilcox (From East Coast) arrives at 5:00 and he is looking forward to discussing with you the proposal.”
“Wait a minute that’s when I’m going out to dinner with Dennis. Now what am I going to do? He’s so pleased I wanted to spend quality time with him during the week.”
You ask, “Frank how did this happen?” He replies “Well, you told me to handle your calendar and I understood how important this account is so that I scheduled him in – you were at a meeting at the time.”
It was then the two of them decided to bring in a computer person to “network” their computers so each individual in the office could view each other’s schedule. It was far too small of an office to have this happen with any frequency. The system was reconfigured and the day arrived when all the computers “talked” to each other. There was a cheer in the office. Networking was the answer.
GROWING THE COMPANY
All of a sudden the phone gets quiet again. You have been so busy handling the clients you have aboard, you forgot about bringing in new business from the community.
The three of you meet and decide that you have to do some “people networking.” There is a groan in the office and even, “Yes, I know attitude from you.”
You all sit there and say things such as: “I hate networking, I hate small talk,” “I’d rather go to a dentist than go a cocktail party,” “Do we have to dress up for these things? Maybe they will have some good food at ___ event. Do they serve booze? I’ll need it.”
It obviously is time to give the team a pep talk. Suddenly you remember what Kathy Condon has been saying in her classes and columns on networking. You say “Let’s take networking/connecting with people from another approach. What if we looked at it as a way to learn new things about people and places? We don’t have to be the one doing the talking – let’s just start asking more questions.” Kathy says frequently, “You know everything you know, so the idea is to learn more about the people when you meet them.”
I think she says something about not pushing your business on the person at the first meeting. You set up a coffee or lunch date with them afterwards and that is when you explain in a relaxed atmosphere. That’s where you start to develop a relationship. She has this saying “People do business with people they like and know.”
We have nothing to lose…let’s try it.”
Yes, our computers need to talk with each other, yet people are questioning the need to talk with people about “The Little Things.” It was the “Little Things” that tripped up the owners’ evening with her significant other. Trust me; it is “The Little Things” you talk about with a person at a chance meeting that may have a significant impact on your business. I’m off to a meeting with a National Career Coach – we met at a reception five years ago. She requested the meeting. She said “I want to discuss a partnership with you.” Certainly happy I took the time to network with her and follow up with a note after our first meeting.