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Networking Takes on All Shapes, Sizes and Speeds
by Karen West

Think of it as speed dating for your business.

Seattle entrepreneur Anne Alberg welcomes a group of professionals to the Premier Club at Key Arena. She outlines the exercise and instructs everyone to get into position. She then rings the starting bell.

Smartly dressed women quickly introduce themselves and outline their goals to the person sitting across from them – all in 30 seconds. Alberg rings the buzzer again, signaling their counterparts to present their own one-breath introductions. Thirty seconds later, the buzzer goes off again: time to move on to the next person.

Like a business version of musical chairs, the session continues for another 45 minutes. When Alberg, the event’s MC, rings the final buzzer, each person has made a powerful connection and exchanged business cards with nearly a dozen potential clients, mentors and new friends.

Welcome to the world of high-speed networking, or as some call it, “metworking.” Designed to give busy professionals maximum exposure with a fast-paced series of introductions, it’s a new spin on the age-old art of networking.

High-speed networking isn’t for everyone, however, with some saying it can be a stressful, noisy and superficial way of connecting with potential clients.

“I don’t care for it because my whole philosophy is quality over quantity,” says Bettina Carey, who quit a career in nursing to become a professional networker and owner of Seattle’s Women in Small Biz. “Networking is not about how many people you meet but about the quality of the people you meet.”

Whether you network in the fast lane, online, at professional meetings or in the supermarket, experts agree that the concept of exchanging information and building relationships with other people is crucial to personal, financial and professional success.

Most women’s organizations – there are more than 65 in the Seattle area alone – offer some sort of networking event or seminar to help people seeking a new job, client, or mentor. To take advantage of networking opportunities, Carey offers several tips:

• Magnetize yourself by setting your intentions. If you project your intentions effectively, you will attract the person you need.

• Clarity – Be clear and articulate about what your needs are.

• Build credibility by being helpful. Whether it’s greeting guests, putting out table favors, or passing out materials, be a resource to everyone in the room.

• Be able to strategize and trade partnerships. Always look to match people with others so they can move their product along further.

• Be a good listener, authentic and sincere. If you say you are going to help someone, follow through.

Ellen Langan, an organizational consultant who gives frequent talks on networking, agrees, saying successful networking is all about building relationships as opposed to just collecting business cards.

One of her golden rules of networking is: “To thine own self be true.” No matter what your style, she says everyone must ask themselves: “Who are you? What do you do? And what is unique about you or your business?”

Promoting others is just as important, or more, than promoting yourself, Langan says. “While you are networking, you need to be interested in other people … find out what is unique about the person you are talking to.”

Eva Chiu, president of Women Business Owners, says networking should be seen as a way to build one’s trusted circle of friends.

“This goes a long way in getting to know what’s happening and what’s up and coming, doing reality checks, appreciating other people’s perspectives, getting advice and recommendations and finding resources to make things happen,” Chiu says.

Trying to grow a business without networking would be like “hiding in a cave,” she adds. “How would you know what you do and what you offer is even relevant?”

©2004 Caliope Publishing Company