THE AMAZING SECRETS OF NETWORKING BY BASOLA A. VICTOR

THE AMAZING SECRETS OF NETWORKING
BY
BASOLA A. VICTOR

…..Your Networth is determined by your Network

Are you listed among "Who’s Who" of your valued clients, respected peers, and mentors? Or, does your potential client, preferred role model, or desired friend say, "Who’s that?"
Everyone on the "Who’s Who" list knows that networking is vital to their savvy and success. We all need to create for ourselves a plan to influence others! Often at conferences and meetings, I demonstrate for participants how to introduce themselves, how to identify what their networking goals are, and have them play the “Networking Game” to get the meeting rolling. I often work with senior executives who do not know how to mingle. Here`s a peek at what I teach them!
IT`S NORMAL TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE What causes people to fear mingling? 92% of us claim to be shy at times. I know I am and I teach this stuff! When you find yourself hesitating, avoiding a networking event, or skipping the mixer, smile and say I`m going to Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (title of great book by Susan Jeffers.) When we "do it anyway" despite our misgivings, we expand our comfort zone. Knowing the "how to`s of mingling” helps us to easily break down our own barriers. The following are the steps to harnessing the power of networking
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT:
Take the time to challenge yourself to come up with a list of experiences, opportunities, and things you want. Having a vision of what you want will more likely help you to get there. My friend Edmund Oshioke wanted to fund a Community Development Summit in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Being clear about the goal and having it in writing caused him to begin networking to make it happen. If you do not have a list of at least 15 things you want to do, you are in a rut! Knowing what we want to create next in our lives keeps us active, motivated, and interesting to others.

ASK YOURSELF, "WHO DO I WANT TO KNOW?"
Look at each item on your list. Next to each, identify whom you need to know to help you get what you want. How could you meet this person? With what associations, groups, or organizations would he or she affiliate? A recent client of mine wanted to learn how to get funds to Publish a book. When I asked him who it would be helpful to know, he was able to identify three possible types of people who could help him to raise the needed Cash or at least Give him some amount of services for free.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF I am frequently surprised how many people do not know how to introduce themselves and others. My parents did not teach me how to introduce myself as a business professional, nor did I learn it in school. I too had to learn how to correctly conduct introductions once I joined the professional world. Now, in seminars, I teach folks how to shake hands and practice introductions. The mechanics of a good handshake include: - have eye contact, - extend your hand with the thumb up, - link hands firmly, web to web, - pump 3 - 4 times.
What often goes wrong in the handshake? No eye contact, waiting for the other person to initiate, dead fish or too firm a grip, continuing to pump too long. Practice with a friend. You may have developed one of these bad habits and not be aware of it.
What you say during the introduction is of equal importance. If you are introducing yourself to someone, say, "Hello I am First and Last Name" as you extend your hand. They should extend their hand and say something like, “Nice to meet you, Name I am First and Last Name." This occurs during the handshake.
If you are introducing two people to each other, say the name of the person you are honoring first. If all else is equal, say the name of an older person before the name of the younger. Let’s say that James Okoro is my client and Osazee Thompson is my friend or colleague. I start by saying, "James Okoro, I`d like you to meet Osazee Thompson." I pause for about 3 seconds. (No ping-pong. Don`t say James this is Thompson, Thompson, this is James.) Then I add something about James that would be of interest to Thompson: "James and I have worked together at BASH Concepts International for the past Three years." Finish with something interesting about the person you are honoring, such as, "Thompson, you would be interested to know that James is one of the best team player on our Staff list" Now they each know something about the other that they can use to begin a conversation.
ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT
After you have met the person or group who you think could help you get what you want, you have to ask! Relationships are built on reciprocal interchanges. What could you give, do, or offer your new networking contact? People, like you, like to be helpful - it feels really good! They are usually open to extending their help when asked. Give others the opportunity to aid you in reaching your goals.
GIVE THEM SOMETHING IN RETURN
Sometime in 2007 One of My mentors, Uju Onyechere based in Lagos, Nigeria wanted to organize a seminar tagged 8 Streams of Multiple Income in the Oil City of Warri and he needed a marketing expert to help him do the targeted marketing and Publicity and I was contacted by my Friend Timothy Ogene to help. I immediately sprung into action without asking for any motivation; I knew this was the opportunity for investing into my mentor and opening the door for Him to help me whenever I want. I tried my best to market the seminar and by God’ grace, it was successful.
Later that same Year, BASH Concepts International wanted to organize It’s Monthly, Starting Your Own Business Seminar in Abraka, Delta State and I contacted Uju Onyechere as One of our speakers. Under normal circumstances, I was supposed to pay close to 60,000 Naira for Him to leave his numerous speaking engagement and attend to me, but because of My Investment early that Year, He said “ BASH, if you can afford to pay my transport to and fro, no problem; any other thing you have I will collect from you”
I was amazed and that helped me to save some cash though for some technical and academic reasons the seminar was postponed.
Till today whenever I call on Him, he is ever ready to answer me and also refer me to people on his network who he fells can help me get there. I have not only known him, I have also known everybody that he knows, how amazing, I have known everyone on His network.
Till we meet again, YOUR NETWORK IS DETERMINED BY YOUR NETWORK.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Basola A. Victor is a Best Selling Author, Marketing Expert and Business Consultant. He is presently the CEO of Bash Concepts International, a Marketing Expertise and Business solutions firm dedicated to become a one stop source for overall business development. He is quick to express His passionate belief in the Human Resource Potentials that Nigeria possesses and He has expressed this at various local, national and regional fora through his speaking opportunities with over 400 audiences over the years.
He is a dynamic, entertaining and highly sought-after speaker, his dynamic influence in the area of Leadership, Business Start- Up, Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Youth Empowerment is Unrivaled.
He has authored four (soon to be published) books including “60 Business Ideas You Can Do With Little Or No Money”, and “How To Sack Your Dad”.
He is the Founder and Project Manager of Rural Development Initiative Nigeria (RDIN), a body committed to the financial empowerment and moral revolution of community youths, women and children through the organization of financial empowerment seminars and workshops, HIV AIDS awareness campaigns and implementation of Rural and Micro-Credit Schemes.

TO CONTACT HIM WRITE:

BASH Concepts International
Suite 001, Elshaddai House Off Umono Rd. Abraka
Delta State, Nigeria
(+234) 07035121346, 08078957783