Make Your Mark - Connect

Networking is about connecting, and connecting is a two way thing.

I don't like spending time with people who don't ask good questions, or even worse, don't ask questions at all.

So my point is, ask questions. Find out how the person you are talking to/working with got their idea, or how they met their partner, or how they got their job, or what their favourite type of cake is. Building comment ground is key to building really good connections.

Glen Whitman compiled a list called The Two Things - based on the theory that "For every subject, there are only two things you really need to know. Everything else is the application of those two things, or just not important.” Here are some:

The Two Things about Trading
1.  Buy low.
2.  Sell high.

The Two Things about Driving:
1.  Don't hit anything.
2.  Don't let anything hit you.

The Make Your Mark campaign is all about helping people turn their ideas into reality.

So, help us build a list about the Two Things you need to know about how to make your ideas happen.

Add them to the comments below:

Typing 'Finding a decent meeting venue' into Google, yields some interesting results. The adverts range from an inspiring sounding venue "just off Junction 10 from the M40" to "Millions of singles with photos. Browse by age and area."

For me, when I think of a typical networking meeting, I think of a Forte (now Holiday Inn) Travelodge conference room, shortcake biscuits, crap tea, flipcharts and bad lighting.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Networking meetings are just gatherings of people, and can take place anywhere that there's space for people. Whilst developing Speednetwork the Nation we're investigating holding events in a moat, on trains, whilst walking, on/in a variety of landmarks, suspended 150 feet in the air whilst having dinner, and even on the phone.

So the message is very simple. Find a place you're comfortable with, it could be a nice local cafe (delocator.org.uk is very useful in this regard, although its not working at the mo). Your friendly Connect blogger tends to use either The Breakfast Club Soho or Suburb when he's at work, or the Salthouse Harbour when's he's at home.

The things I look for in a meeting venue are:

• Noise Levels - if there is music, it shouldn't be too loud
• Food and Drink - i find it very difficult to concentrate if hungry/thirsty, so often something to fill me up is needed
• Seating and Space - its no good sitting down to talk if you're not comfortable, and its even worse if you can't make notes.

Have a wander down your local high street and see what you can see. I bet if you mention your plan to use a venue as a network base the owner/manager will welcome you with open arms.

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Addition: Why not use a greasy spoon (eggbaconchipsandbeans) and more on good places for a good place for a cup of tea and a think

From Cally:

Jo Hill's email asked for any tips about networking to be sent to you.

This tip seems simple...but is o so often overlooked...

Do business with people you LIKE

And this means networking with the kinds of people you're most likely to hit it off with.

To find out who these people are...close your eyes and look at a door (in your mind's eye). Walk towards it and open it to find a roomful of kind of people you like spending time with. What are they like???

Seems a bit of a far-out barmy exercise, but this has really worked with people when they are trying to find out their niche.

You can even extend it by going into the room and bumping into the person you most want to make contact with. Ask them some questions, find out about them.

Now, what networks do you know where this kind of person might go? That's your best network to start with.

Bestest, Cally Robson
new ideas coach
www.ideas-into-action.co.uk
callyrobson@ideas-into-action.co.uk
+44 (0)1608 811227
skype: callyrobson

Here are Oli Barrett's (the world's greatest Speednetworker) tips on how to be a great host:

1) Spend some time before the event sitting down with a quick cup of tea and a printed guest list and thinking about any of the potential introductions you could make in the room.  You'll be surprised how many come back to you when the event is in full swing. 

2)  Once you've introduced two people, give a brief line to each about the other (John's a keen fisherman, and I met Sandy on a beach), then don't be afraid to just walk away without any big 'goodbye'.

3) Make early friends with the venue team as they'll be a great source of support as the evening goes by.  It's never good to have to introduce yourself at the point something has gone wrong. More than a quick 'hi', it's really worth having a proper chat early on.

4) At the end of the event, remind the guests that you're happy to introduce them to any of the guests they didn't have time to chat to. The best thing of all is that, once people think of you as someone who knows people, then that in turn attracts opportunities.   

5) Make a beeline for new arrivals.  They'll be really grateful that someone has spotted them and you can put them together straight away with anyone else on their own. 

6)  Even if only for 1 minute, I believe in marking the moment with a brief word of welcome.  It will introduce you to anyone you've not met as 'the host' and build good will in the room.

I really like Oli's tips.

The most important thing about being a good host is making the first move, and taking the initiative. Its scary meeting people for the first time, and a good host helps make people feel like they have at least one friend in the room.

In my consulting days, office space was way down the list of things I could afford, along with business cards.

I found working from home extremely difficult. In the first few months, I was extremely lazy, missing clients and business opportunities because I couldn't adapt to working from my bedroom.

However, it seems that people have woken up to the potential there is from small and micro businesses.

Enterprise Nation, run by the fantastic Emma Jones, is a community dedicated to supporting people who work from home, and includes information on everything from how to make crepes in your homeworking kitchen to have your phone answered professionally.

For those of you whose ideas are just peeking over the nest like a new born baby bird, the first really viable step is working from home, so networks and support groups like Enterprise Nation are invaluable.

However, for those of you lucky enough to have an idea that's taking its first flights into the big wide world, there are some exciting opportunities. Frustrated by the lack of flexibility, and as i found, affordability, entrepreneurs have seized on the need for affordable, 'homely' office space.

The Hub which is based in Angel, Islington, London  and King Street, Bristol, is:

"an incubator for social innovation. We offer membership of inspirational habitats in major world cities for social innovators to work, meet, learn, connect and realise progressive ideas. The Hub is a place for making things happen. All the tools and trimmings needed to cultivate an idea, launch a project, host a meeting and run a business."

The Hub - Home Page

Wonderfully flowery marketing speak, but i've been for a visit to the London Hub and I can tell you that it is simply stonking. The place is filled with highly creative people, each working on their own individual projects, but also able to lean over and discuss about collaborating and working together. Its one of those "slap-your-head-i-wish-i'd-thought-of-it" ideas.

Alternatively, for the less funky ones of you, there's Hubworking, which is based just over from London Liverpool Street Station. Jo went to visit today, and was really impressed:

"Its a great place, 3 floors. A huge conference room, hot desking and a really nice members lounge where you can just help yourself to drinks and stuff from the fridge, and note down what you've taken. It feels like your own office when you're in there"

Jo Hill

One of the most useful skills I have learnt from dipping my toe into the world of entrepreneurship is how to talk to people.

Even though neither of my businesses made any huge financial gains, the ability to talk face to face or over the phone to a complete stranger, get the information you need, and make a connection with them has been a skill that has opened many doors.

Some thoughts on this from me:

Meeting and connecting with people gives you a huge opportunity to practice these skills, and hone them, so make sure you check out some of the events going on in your area.