Image by Grant Wickes via Flickr
I had an opportunity to sit with a couple young entrepreneurs this morning. In spending this time with them, I was reminded about the idea of networking and the growth of business. Without this time of networking I would not know about their business nor would I be able to refer them to my clients who might well need them.
While networking has always been a part of business success, it seems that in today’s business climate driven often by online marketing opportunities, that real networking has suffered. It’s easier to “shoot” someone an email or direct them to your Twitter account than to sit down for a cup of coffee. While these technologies have their place in every business, they should not and really cannot take the place of the face-to-face contact that is the essence of networking.
Networking is important because:
- When I am looking into your face I can hear the sincerity of your words.
- When I am looking into your face I can see the passion in your eyes.
- When I am looking into your face I can tell your confidence that you display.
- When I am looking into your face you can see the same things in me.
It is when we can gain the confidence in each other that only this kind of conversation brings, that we will readily refer each other and our businesses to our clients, family, and friends.
Every business should recognize the value of this kind of networking and realize how important it is to the growth of our businesses.
