How To Conquer The 3 Most Common Networking Concerns -Pushy, Perfection, Possibly NO

How To Conquer The 3 Most Common Networking Concerns -Pushy, Perfection,Possibly NO

The weather is beautiful. It’s time to get out, ‘network’and meet new people. Yet three common networking concerns surface and might hold us back.

The most common networking concerns that I hear are what I call the sales plagues of the P:

Here are some ways to reframe and conquer thesethese fears:

Fear of being PUSHY – This concern is real because some peopleassign direct sellersthe reputation of being PUSHY and some direct sellers are PUSHY.The issue issometimes due to faultyperceptionor preconceived notionsand other times is due to ineffective actions. This reaction is warrantedwhen people pitch their business too soon, and act like their business opportunity, product or service is the cure all for everyone.Eventhough it is important to be enthusiastic and enthusiasm is an attractive quality,it can be misconstrued.These actionsmaybe a deterrent, unless the other person is receptive to listen and ready to buy.

Other guaranteed repellents to avoid while pursuing prospects include: pity, desperation, and (worth repeating)…diving into the pursuit of business before discovering the motivational need or desire for a product or service.

To conquer the fears of PUSHY calibrate your volume control. Are you an introvert or extravert?

As an introvert, youmay have the desire to speak to the bank teller or the person at a luncheon; however by the time you work up the courage to assert yourself,and figure out what to say…the opportunity is gone. To increase youreffectiveness,turn up the volume and be ready to converse.Shift your focus toward building new relationships instead of focusing on finding immediate new business. With practice and encouragement, this action will grow to be routine and sincere.

As an extrovert, youmay drive people away with your strong conviction, enthusiasm and zeal. In order to increaseyour effectiveness, turn down the volume to connect with others. With patience and objectivity, the prospects will blossom accordingly.

I spoke at an organization meeting recentlyabout the benefit of being an entrepreneur. Bob walked in and at the end of meeting out of the blue; he said somethingsimilar to this:

“Hey everyone I have a fantastic new opportunity that my millionaire friend and I are bringing to this town. She has made gazillions from this industry and now is your chance to jump on board… If you are interested you can just listen to this CD and come to the meeting. The key word here is “WELL-NESS”.

A heavy cloud dropped over the room as he plowed forward and made his announcement. Eyes rolled, faces scrunched and immediately after the small group of people looked down so as not to make eye contact. The response reflected the aftermath of PUSHY.To increase effectiveness,focus on noticing the impact you are having onothers.Find ways to meet their needs and build rapport before blurting out business bids. Look for signals of interest, curiosity and permissionto proceed.

Plagued by Perfection – Release yourselffrom the idea that yourdelivery needs to be perfect or that each encounter needs to be a hit. By focusing on practice and progress,you will develop a personal style. If allyou walk away with is practice,you still benefit in the end.Stay in a learning mode,allow yourself to make mistakes and improve as you figure out how to effectively manage your volume control.

The Pessimism of Possibly Hearing NO -Be mindful of the fact that receiving a ‘no’ is not a personal rejection or personal attack. When new contacts sense that you havelet go of the outcome, conversation flows easier and the context is more comfortable.When theysense that a no will be difficult for you to hear or accept, the conversation tends to get awkward or indirect. You never really know where you stand.

A ‘no’ provides additional opportunities for reflection, and sometimes correction. No may mean ‘not now’ versus ‘never’. When you do get a no,askif it isOKto check back at a later date.When you reconnectyour contact may be willing to reconsider.

Most professional relationships form after six communications. Fostering the connections during future meetings will often help build the relationship, generate referralsand give you betterresults.

Whenyou find your optimal volume control andnetworking style, your potential to bring innew businessis limitless. Each interaction bears a different set of circumstances, with a different outcome.With an understanding for the importance of networking,your sales will increase, andyour businesses will simply grow.

Conquer the 3 most commonnetworking concerns and turn these3 “P”sales plagues intounlimited possibility.

2010 All Rights Reserved.
Barb Girson Original Work

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About The Author

Barb Girson, International Direct Selling Industry expert, trainer and coach, is a highly interactive, creative speaker & author offering professional skill development programs for workshops, leader retreats, annual conventions & teleclass sales training programs. Custom programs /Coaching 1:1 available.

Barb Girson helps companies, teams & entrepreneurs gain confidence, get into action, & most importantly… grow sales.

To sign up for her next FREE sales training teleclass / join her free email list & get ‘Sales Strategies that Stick’ ezine, Visit http://www.MySalesTactics.com to learn more.

Need a speaker for your next event? Contact Barb: 614.855.0446