My good friend, Al Martella, Executive Coach to the Stars who coached and mentored thousands of financial advisors at a major financial services firm is back with another nugget this week. It is about how networking and listening go hand in hand.
Without one you can’t do the other.
As you know from everything we discuss in Networking Nuggets- the number one ingredient to be an excellent ‘networker’ is to really listen.
In Al’s words:
“In my coaching activities, I often come across individuals who are skeptical about networking. They question if it is plausible to get strangers to speak with you.
My experience is that most people are willing to network with individuals that can demonstrate that they are:
- willing to actively listen to them.
- sincere and truly interested in what is being said.
- dedicated to making their life and work easier and more productive.
As I mentioned in a previous nugget, I believe it is an advantage for a networker to be “naturally curious” and interested in genuinely getting to know those around them better. They don’t see networking as “work” – they see it a natural thing to do. People who are “naturally curious” believe that people want to tell others “their story.” More importantly, the networker wants to hear it – listening not only to “facts” but “attitudes.”
My wife and I were on a cruise recently where we witnessed a conversation between two men. One gentleman had a camera with a huge lens attached. Across from him was a stranger who simply said, pointing to the camera, “I like that.” Those three words led into a twenty minute conversation about cameras and equipment, places they had taken pictures, and other subjects. They walked away from us speaking like they knew each other for years.
The first person made a simple observation.
The second person felt empowered to tell their story.
The first person listened.
A network connection and a possible friendship was made.
What do you think? Andrea and I would love to hear from you and your thoughts and suggestions.”
Send in a success story where you watched a connection being made or deepened based on listening…..