How to Network like a CEO
The term networking has become a buzzword in professional circles, often punted as the secret key to winning in business. Being a part of a respectable network of individuals can yield significant benefit for a small business and the responsibility to build that network often lies with the CEO at the helm of the organization. Not only does a strong network provide you with the chance for learning through the exchange of information among like-minded people, but it also presents possibilities for collaboration and potential new work opportunities. For entrepreneurs leading a business, this is of utmost importance.
The value of your network is largely determined by the quality of the people that make up that group. The people you associate with both personally and professionally, can influence your ideas and to a degree, your decision-making process, and conversely, you hold that influence on others too. Whether you’re starting out in business or seasoned as an entrepreneur, it is vital to be engaging with other people to grow, learn and progress particularly when it comes to our professional careers.
Here are a few ways to approach networking like a CEO:
- Consider everyone you meet a networking opportunity – As an entrepreneur, day in and day out, you’re constantly speaking to and meeting new people. Whether it’s a new supplier on the phone, the colleagues you meet at a business meeting or the people you are introduced to at an event, everyone you connect with has some information to exchange which could be of value to you. One of the key qualities good CEOs embody as leaders, is seeing every connection or engagement as an opportunity – to offer help, to learn or to simply receive something for yourself in return.
- Have your 1-minute pitch ready to go - It’s no secret that CEOs live exceptionally busy lives, moving from calls on the move, to Zoom meetings in between a number of physical appointments, therefore any moment they may have to spare are precious. For this reason, it can be challenging to get even 30-min for a sit-down chat in their busy diaries, so if you happen to find yourself in the company of a CEO or decision maker of any kind, you’ve got to have your message prepped short, sweet, and powerful enough to make an impact.
- Connect with the person, not the title – As leaders of organisations, meeting and engaging with people comes with the CEO badge. Those who embrace this and are genuinely interested in getting to know the people behind the titles that fill up the company organogram, are the ones who are generally more liked and supported by staff and in turn reap the benefits of greater output from a more united and productive workforce. Businesses with leaders who only focus on the bottom line, prioritizing profit over people, struggle with creating wholesome culture that teams can buy into, and staff often find it easier to leave an organisation like this. This inevitably leads to becoming a leader with a title and no influence. And networking after all, is about influence.
- A Strong Network = Strong Relationships – Networking is ultimately about relationships with people and the best relationships are built on a solid foundation of authenticity and genuine interest. For a network to really be valuable, to yield mutual benefit especially in a business context, there must be mutual trust and a meaningful exchange between the parties. Engaging authentically, with honesty and integrity in a professional environment, ensures that you build a network that you can rely on for support and makes deciding whether to collaborate with another business on possible new ventures, a lot easier. Furthermore, when tough times or disagreements arise, trust makes having hard conversations or disagreements much easier to get through.
- Your network can be online too – Running a modern-day business means running a digital business in some way, shape or form. With 63.1% of the world’s population online today, it is imperative that businesses consider their online audience as a very real and powerful segment of their customer network. Building networks using tech platforms have become a lot easier with the advancement of digital communication and social media. With the boom in e-commerce functionality on these platforms, it has never been easier to get your product or service in front of your target market. If you’re the type who finds making in-person connections with people challenging, focus on building an online brand that will connect and develop networking opportunities for you in a much simpler, less intimidating manner.
- Building a sound network takes time – Everyone hates the dreaded call from someone you hear from only when they need something. A mark of a CEO with a good reputable brand in the public domain, is often one that has gained trust and proven themselves to their network time and time again and this cannot be done through once off interaction. Building a longstanding, trusted brand and reputation takes consistent, authentic, and positive engagement to create an impression that lasts. Practically, this means ongoing engagement with your network of suppliers, customers, and affiliates. Picking up the phone or sending a mail or text message every now and then to check-in goes a long way in showing people you care, so remember to keep in touch.
Registered for the upcoming Tech Entrepreneurship Xperience (T.E.X) happening on 15 September 2022 yet? Attendees will have access to engaging with CEOs, decision makers and pioneering thought leaders that will shape the future of entrepreneurship as we know it. All virtual registrations are complimentary and limited, with only 400 virtual access tickets being made available to the public.
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