THE FOUR MOST COMMON NETWORKING MISTAKES

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Oh no!  I looked down at my shirt & I had spilled cereal on it.  I was running late for an 8 o’clock business meeting & I had to make a decision…change my shirt and be late or go to the meeting with a glaring round milk stain.  I decided to go directly to the meeting and just keep my arms folded.

 Of all the podcasts I’ve done, the one on being late has gotten the most comments.  It makes people crazy when you don’t come on time and don’t call…so having made that post, I sure couldn’t afford to be late myself.

 I’m going list what I feel are the four most common networking mistakes…and of course I’ve started out with being on time.

 Number two is people not carrying their business cards.  I was at meeting last week and ran into a business associate who had just changed jobs.  I asked for his card and he responded…I don’t need cards…everyone knows me.  I was surprised with his response, but not surprised he didn’t have any cards…this happens all the time.  And even worse, when I give someone my card & ask them to send me their contact information, very few follow up.

 Next are people who don’t say thank you.  I was recently at a National Conference.  I heard many great speakers & presenters, but two were unusually good so I wrote each of them an unsolicited recommendation on LinkedIn.  One sent an enthusiastic thank you…I haven’t heard from the other yet.  I don’t quite have the same enthusiasm for the second presenter as I did before.

 And number four is people who try to directly solicit business on LinkedIn, Facebook, & and other social media.  When someone is always trying to sell me, I just take them out of my network.

 This is David Sher, your e-networking guy saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.

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