Daily Leadership Thought #67 – Networking Isn’t Optional
Networking isn’t optional. As a leader, you are the public face of your organization. You are the ambassador to the rest of the business world. Unless your product or service requires no marketing or selling at all, you need to be out there meeting with people and discussing it. The best way to establish a public presence is to understand who the connectors/influencers are in your industry and community and reach out to develop relationships with them. There are also likely to be forums, events, or organizations that tend to attract your customer base. Ensure that you and your salespeople (if applicable) attend these events frequently to meet as many people as possible to advance your business development agenda. Rarely in business do you “build it and they will come”; instead, you need to regularly inform people of who you are, what you are building, why you are building it, and how this benefits them or someone they know. You must also understand your customers’ interests, needs, and purchasing habits. Networking isn’t optional. To be successful, you need to be in the field, meeting people, and making good things happen. Leadership is not a passive activity.
Related articles
- 10 Reasons Why Networking Is Essential For Your Career (forbes.com)
- Building a Customer Base (hospitalitybrainwave.wordpress.com)
- Never Stop Marketing Your Small Business! (corporationcentre.ca)
- Harvard Business: Top Reasons Salespeople Lose Business (blogs.hbr.org)
- 10 Steps to Creating a Top-Selling Sales Culture (openforum.com)
