Things have changed, and in the state of Minnesota we are shut down through mid-April.
For those of you who are fearful of networking in person and through a screen, remain calm.
We all have fears about networking and reaching out to new people. yet now, more than ever, as human beings, we need other people to get our work done, find a job or increase sales.
Consider who are the most important people in your network and why they are important. Reach out to them, by phone, email or on social media. Creating a starting point and increasing your connection with your existing network makes it easier to expand your circle.
I call that list of your network your Impact 100™. Please pay attention to those people.
If your goal is to expand your network without leaving your home office or kitchen table, here are tips for overcoming the natural anxiety that comes from reaching out to people and asking for anything — the order, a name, feedback, an interview, or a 20-minute phone call.
1. Be a leader
Stand up and share what you know and believe about your business. Now, more than ever, people are scared and are shrinking their spending habits, their actions and their ability to talk about what is going on in the world because it is so surreal.
So, take a deep breath and reach out to people in your network, people you think may be struggling and ask people how they are doing. This simple gesture of taking the lead in outreach will give you more energy to be productive. You can reach out by phone, email or online.
2. Have a plan
How many people are you going to try to connect with or interact with each week? Will you be doing a 15-minute phone call and then follow up with an email?
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Start commenting on LinkedIn instead of merely reading what other people post. Or, better yet, publish your own point of view on your area of expertise and increase your thought leadership.
The clients I work with make a 30-day plan for what they are going to do with their network. They have a routine for their outreach. One routine for people you know is a phone call, a follow-up email, a thank you note and a habit of connecting with people every quarter.
Another routine for people you don't know is doing research on the person on LinkedIn, then seeing if you have anyone in common so you can convert to a warm introduction, and then sending a very brief, purposeful and professional LinkedIn note as to why you want to connect.
Recent statistics say that 70% of people go on LinkedIn every day, yet many people you want to reach may not be on LinkedIn, so look for their email or phone number and go that route.
3. Be creative
Many people who are busy with their work don't want to give up their time to meet a new person. So, you have to figure out how to stand out.
What can you provide the other person with that will make their job easier? Or, how can you entertain them and get their attention?
I call this, "show and tell." For example, if you read about someone you want to meet in the Business Journal or another publication, why not send them that article and say congratulations? If you know the person has a hobby and you want to share something about it with them, use that as an opening comment.
4. Stay connected
Use social media to stay connected. Reach out once a week, once a month or once a quarter. Be inclusive and include other people in the comments you make. Build relationships as quickly as young people do online, and don't be hesitant to involve another person.
If you think someone might want to know about the research survey on the accounting industry and you see it on a LinkedIn post, share it with your network and tag people.
Now more than ever, we want to stay connected, and it's important to have a variety of ways to keep in contact. Email, phone, setting up a group video happy hour — these are all options to continue to share knowledge and keep working. Buy gift cards from local businesses and assure them you will come back when they re-open.
People are afraid of the economy and the coronavirus, but now more than ever we need to choose our attitude and choose a network that keeps us accomplishing all the things we want to do. Take care of each other.