The Upside that Social Distancing Networking will Create for ALL Business Owners

The Upside that Social Distancing Networking will Create for ALL Business Owners

Is it at all possible there could be an upside of social distancing when networking face to face?

Consider this, there are things we all hate about networking up close and personal, mainly those who lack the self-awareness in how they are showing up that you just want to run a mile from.

It might be the person who is just talking incessantly about themselves trying to convince you, you need their product or service you can’t escape. The person who invades your personal space. Or perhaps it’s too many people in the room and it freaks you out? Meeting the wrong people.

Let’s face it, networking can feel tiring and a waste of time. Standing there having to put on the happy face and pretend you’re interested. Conversation going nowhere and sick of answering the question what do you do?

When face to face networking resumes the benefits that social distance Networking is going to create for ALL business owners include:

1. SMALLER NUMBERS ATTENDING
The biggest advantage of walking into a small room of limited numbers is like you are joining an intimate dinner party where there is an increased chance of more meaningful conversations.

It will be less likely people are turning up to “work the room.”

It will be a godsend to introverts and empaths who feel threatened by large numbers and suffer the energy drain that comes with entering such a large room of numbers.

Any clicky networking group will just drift off to form their own groups. Yes, you may encounter it once but at least you will realise that and won’t have to turn up week after week in the hope of meeting someone new.

Smaller numbers also mean that there is an increased chance of collaboration.

2. INCREASED CHANCE OF PURPOSE DRIVEN COLLABORATIONS/JOINT VENTURES
With the decrease in numbers attending networking events, the events planned are more likely to operate as pods designed to a specific industry niche for more purposeful collaboration.

Think of it as ‘meetings with a mission’ where those attending want the maximum benefit for time spent interacting which is based on a clearly defined objective for attending.

No longer will you have to turn up to an event of hour-long pitches, an old-style structure that had you looking at your watch or standing with a coffee wondering why you bothered turning up to meet a bunch of nice people that deliver superficial conversations.

3. TECHNOLOGY WILL ENHANCE THE CAPACITY TO CONNECT WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE MORE EFFICIENTLY
Imagine the ability to connect online through an app and explore the value of those who will be attending before you go to a networking event?

No more turning up to an event with a random hit and miss opportunity of who you are going to meet, and will they be of value?

The combination of online and offline networking and being able to pick and choose which you can attend according to your busy work schedule is going to be the answer for many busy business owners who would like to network face to face but don’t have time.

4. CONNECTING WILL REPLACE OLD STYLE NETWORKING
If there is a silver lining to COVID 19, it is that the virus socially isolated us and forced us to review our need for meaningful connection.

The difference between being a networker as opposed to a connector is that connectors reach out to form alliances with other people offering to be of service in the first instance.

Networkers work the room for the cards not giving much attention to building a deep relationship with those they meet as they are too busy telling everyone how busy they are, how successful they are, and why what they do is so important. This typically shoots them in the foot when those who gave the cards don’t take their calls.

But how do you form a meaningful connection and conduct a purposeful conversation from a 1.5-meter distance?

Answer: Master building rapport.

To successfully build rapport from a distance means you will need to become highly skilled in the 11 Key Elements of Building Rapport which is possible despite the physical distance between you.

Download the PDF SuperConnectors Guide on “How to Build Rapport When Your 1.5 metres Apart”