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February 28, 2005
Overcoming The Stumbling Blocks To Successful Networking
BOOM is all about networking. Let's get some tips from corporate trainer Lydia Ramsey on how to perfect this subtle skill.
The ability to connect with people is essential to success in any business. Professional networking events present opportunities to interact with others on a personal level and to develop profitable relationships. These occasions are critical for anyone who wants to grow a business or promote a career.
Many people are simply not comfortable walking into a room full of strangers and striking up conversations. Here are five common stumbling blocks that you may face and tips to help you overcome them.
A RELUCTANCE TO TALK TO STRANGERS. You were taught at an early age not to speak to people you don't know. It's not safe. In certain situations today this is still good advice. In business, however, talking to strangers is a way to generate interest and support for your products and services. If you only talk to the people you already know, you will miss out on opportunities to make new connections and establish valuable contacts.
To get past your discomfort in talking to strangers, set a goal for yourself before you attend any networking event. Decide how many new contacts you want to make or how many strangers you want to meet. In some cases, you may specifically target individuals whom you'd like to know.
Next come up with some icebreakers or conversation starters. Have questions prepared that you can ask anyone you meet at the event. You may want to inquire about other people's business, their connection to the sponsoring organization or their opinion of the venue.
LACK OF A FORMAL INTRODUCTION. It's much easier to make a new contact when there is someone else to handle the introduction and pave the way. If you wait for another person to make the move you may not meet anyone. At networking events, the goal is to meet as many people as possible.
This is the time to take the bull by the horns, walk up to people you don't know, introduce yourself and start a conversation. You can do this if you have prepared your self-introduction in advance.
You will not introduce yourself the same way on every occasion. Perhaps it is your first time to attend an association meeting. In that case, you might want to say that as part of your introduction. Let people know who you are, why you are there and give them a reason to ask more abut you.
FEAR OF BEING SEEN AS PUSHY. You may think that you will turn people off if you are assertive and that if they want to talk to you, they will make the first move. If this is your line of thinking you will find yourself spending your time alone at the reception or meeting function and leaving without a single new connection. Being open, friendly and interested does not turn people off.
You will not come across as overly aggressive if you seek out the "approachable" people. These are the ones who are standing alone or who are speaking in groups of three or more. Two people talking to each other are not approachable because they may be having a private conversation and you would be interrupting.
THINKING THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE YOU. There is always the risk that the other person is not interested in you and doesn't want to meet or talk to you. It happens. If that is the case, don't take it personally. Nothing ventured is nothing gained. When you get a cold shoulder, smile, move on and say to yourself, "Next?"
HAVING YOUR INTENTIONS MISUNDERSTOOD. Approaching someone of the opposite sex to begin a conversation may seem more like flirting than networking. This is more of an issue for women than men. Women have an equal place in the work arena and need to make professional connections the same as men do. Women in business can no longer afford to hold back when there is opportunity at hand.
Neither men nor women will have their motives misinterpreted if they present themselves professionally in their attire and if they keep the conversation focused on business issues or topics that are not personal or private.
Whatever your stumbling blocks, face them before the next networking event and devise a personal plan for getting past them. Once you do, you will find yourself connecting with confidence and courtesy on every occasion and the results will be reflected in your bottom line.
c) 2005, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved.
Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Woman's Day. For more information about her programs, products and services, e-mail her at lydia@mannersthatsell.com or visit her web site http://www.mannersthatsell.com
Posted by andre at 06:58 PM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2005
Hedolife's Breakfast Bling Bling '05
Hedolife held its 4th Annual Breakfast Party... Bling 4: The Sunrise Party, in Trinidad on Carnival Sunday morning. All 'Blingers' who were present reported that the event was kickin'!
A lesson in how to 'wine' with a cup on your head. You go Anita!
Anil and Homey take over the mike. This was the true start to the fete.
Marc, Andre & Paul on Carnival Tuesday. Blingers and Boomers unite!
Posted by andre at 05:02 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2005
Andrea's Carnival Pics
Andrea 'Becky' Wray reported that Trini Carnival 2005 was one of the best ever. Let's look at some her pics featuring her Jamaican and Trini friends...
Posted by andre at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2005
Get to know your Soca!!!
Did you go to Trinidad for Carnival? If you did, you already know that the soca was hotter than ever this year! Sherwayne Winchester mash up the Savannah with his Road March winner 'Dead or Alive' and we saw the re-emergence of Doug E Fresh, teaming up with Machael for 'We not giving up'.
An important part of your preparation for F3 on March 12 is for you to know your soca. If you haven't heard all of this year's favourites, then check out Toronto-lime.com to "ketch 'd riddum".
Posted by andre at 01:30 PM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2005
Liming with BOOM's Big Thinker: Andrew Cherry
Every month, BOOM correspondents will be asking 10 questions of Jamaica's top business leaders in our quest to share the ideas and thoughts of our Big Thinkers.
Our first interview was held with Andrew Cherry, Chief Financial Officer, Cable & Wireless Jamaica.
Q. Which businessman or woman do you most admire?
Donald Trump - obviously not for his wardrobe or hairstyle, rather because, from humble beginnings, he has created a successful business empire - on more than one occassion - while at the same time creating a unique celebrity status.
Q. Do you read books on management? If so, which one has influenced you the most?
A must-read for any decision maker, be it in a commercial, governmental or even on a personal basis is "Judgment in Managerial Decision Making" by Max H. Bazerman. Max was a professor of mine at Kellogg Business School so I had the luxury of his experience first hand but even without that this is a no-nonsense, easy-to-read book - a particular eye opener is the exercise on biases in Chapter 2.
Q. What is the most important business event, good or bad, to occur in your working life?
Securing a position as an International Auditor with British American Tobacco, the parent group of Carreras when I was just 25. I spent the following three years working in a dozen countries across five continents - a path that I seem to have continued on till this day. A close second would be securing Euros 50m in 1999 for an Internet start-up that only existed on paper - business environments such as that, driven by cheap capital and technological paradigm shifts only come once in every generation so I doubt I will ever see opportunities such as that again.
Q. Which is more important: what you know or who you know, and why?
What you know - people are fickle, knowledge and experience are more durable.
Q. What does leadership mean to you?
Let me put it this way - a classic pyschological question is "what would you prefer to be liked or feared". To me the answer is neither, I want to be respected. When people respect you they will follow you.
Q. If you could change one thing about the business, financial and commercial environment, what would it be?
Less corruption and self-interest, more innovation and long term perspectives.
Q. Does money motivate you?
No, but the security, comfort, health and entertainment that it enables do.
Q. What gadget/piece of technology can you not do without?
My bMobile cell phone - what did we do before the things were invented?
Q. How do you relax?
Spend time with my beautiful Bajan wife Lydia and our two mad Shih-Tzu dogs Ling and Muji.
Q. What did you think of the "Investa Fiesta"?
You guys know how to have fun - when's the next one
Thanks for participating.
Andrew P
Posted by andre at 11:46 PM | Comments (1)
February 05, 2005
Wanna see some pictures???
If you weren't there at the Investa Fiesta...
Click here to see what you missed!
Posted by andre at 07:08 PM | Comments (1)