In my previous article on personal marketing for the shy, I explored small business networking and how to overcome the dread of walking into rooms full of people you don’t know and turning it into an adventure.
Now let’s confront networking burnout – when you feel you’ve just had enough and can’t be bothered to make the effort any more.
First, see if you can identify the reasons you want to spit the dummy on what was something you once enjoyed and found so useful.
Do you belong to and/or attend too many networking functions? Or maybe you feel the networking you have been doing is not getting the contacts and referrals you want? (Yes I know we give without expectation – but we really do need to feel there is some hope of exchange down the track.)
When you first start formal networking, it’s easy to fall into the trap of becoming a serial-networker and waste a lot of time, energy and money by being too quick to join-up or say yes to invitations – scared you might miss something. And when burnout and exhaustion set in there is a real temptation to bag the networking principle and withdraw from the potentially lucrative networking circuit altogether.
The trick is to become a discerning networker and find the right environment to spread your word and have a good time, without letting it take over your life.
Renewal is a great revitalizer, so if you are suffering a bout of network burnout, allow yourself to take a month or two break. Use the time to do some of the things you maybe felt you were missing out on when you were on the networking treadmill. Catch up with family and non-business friends. Take that painting course that has absolutely nothing to do with growing your business – you never know the person at the next easel could be a prospect!
When you’re refreshed and ready to go back in to networking try the following strategies:
- Decide what you want from a networking group:
- Purely social with people with common interests
- Business growth
- Career advancement
- Great speakers on subjects that interest you
- A community of your professional or business peers
- Unless you are absolutely certain, trial a networking group with three visits before you actually fork out the dollars to join. Check the benefits of membership. Are they something you will actually use and benefit from?
- Budget! What you want to spend annually on networking and where is it best to spend that networking dollar?
- Decide how many networking functions a month is it realistic and enjoyable for you to attend.
And finally a simple technique I’ve found really useful whenever I’m scared, reluctant or tired in any situation:
Pause, take a deep breath, shut your eyes, focus on the event ahead, click your fingers and say to yourself firmly “Showtime”.
Go forth and network!
“ It’s easy to fall into the trap of becoming a serial-networker and waste a lot of time, energy and money by being too quick to join-up or say yes to invitations. ”
Wendy Buckingham provides independent information to assist soloists who want to add coaching skills to their portfolio.
