BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENTS: GOOD OR BAD?

March is a time of year that always excites me. The primary reason for this is I am a regular attendee of the annual St Patricks Day lunch hosted by The Lansdowne Club.

The Lansdowne Club is a business-networking organisation whose purpose was to facilitate business networking and opportunities of Irish nationals living and working in Australia.  The club was formed in 1986 by a group of Irish born business people living in Australia. The St Patricks Day lunch is their flagship event and is in fact the biggest St Pats lunch in the Southern Hemisphere with many prominent business and political figures in attendance.

I am sure that many of you are familiar with comparable organisations and communities who can come in physical and online forms. Now I have to concede that as a “work” event it is a very enjoyable one and certainly an afternoon that has a strong social element. In fact I has sat at a couple of the lunches I have pondered how much networking does get done at these functions.

Though on a serious note whether over lunch on in more formal scenarios one cannot underestimate the power and value of business networking. Business Networking is a really valuable way to expand your knowledge, learn from the success of others, attain new clients and tell others about your business.

“It’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know”. This is so true in business. If you want a really successful business, then you need to have a great source of relevant connections in your network that you can call on when you need them. Networking provides you with a great source of connections, and really opens the door to talk to highly influential people that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to easily talk to or find. It’s not just about who you are networking with directly either.

Being visible and getting noticed is a big benefit of networking. Make sure you regularly attend business and social events that will help to get your face known. You can then help to build your reputation as a knowledgeable, reliable and supportive person by offering useful information or tips to people who need it. You are also more likely to get more leads and referrals, as you will be the one that pops into their head when they need what you offer.

It’s hard to scroll down your Facebook feed without seeing an ad for business coaching or some other miracle program claiming to have the answers to all of your problems. Professional communities are often the breeding ground for authentic mentoring relationships. ones that don’t require you to pay subscription fee. Many professional communities will give you access to several individuals that you can discuss your greatest fears and challenges with. These relationships begin because the members genuinely want to see each other succeed, and they can contribute a lot to self-growth as a business operator.

So whether it’s with a pint of Guinness in your hand, on-line or through a professional forum be sure to take advantage of your immediate and extended networks. Oh and finally happy St Patrick’s Day!!