For your business growth, you need to build relationships, speak to people, and understand their needs, because you may be the person they need, either now or in the future. Building a strong, small business support network can open opportunities and help you connect with the right people who may need your expertise either now or later.
Whether you have met someone through a casual conversation, a formal meeting, or a networking event, what you do after that interaction is what will make the difference in building a genuine business relationship with that person and strengthening your support network.
Think about how many times you have gone to an event or met someone and they have said, “We should catch up” or “I’ll call you next week to arrange a meeting,” and then they never do.
Maybe you have been one of those people. What is the reason you have not taken that next step to make the call and arrange a meeting?
Could it be:
• You are not sure what to say at the meeting
• You are not sure how to articulate what to say
• You are not sure what you want as the outcome of the meeting
• You are worried they will say NO to the meeting
I’m sure you could come up with even more reasons why you have been holding back from contacting the people you know you should be contacting.
Why Your Support Matters for Business Growth
You see, being in business is about communication and listening. It is about listening to the other person’s needs and helping provide a solution to their problem. Developing a strong, small business support network allows you to better understand these needs and identify opportunities to help others.
Think back to the initial conversation you had with that person. What were their needs? What is something you could help them with? Or do you know someone who could help them? By doing nothing, you may actually be doing that person a disservice and limiting your potential for business growth.
Imagine you had a problem or a challenge, and the person standing right in front of you had the answer but chose not to offer it. How would that make you feel?
So right now, think of three people you need to contact who you could possibly help. Write their names down and set aside 20 minutes today to call them and arrange a time to meet.
Let’s not stop there, once you have those three meetings confirmed, write down the next three people you could help or add value to within your support network.
Start to notice the momentum you are building. Even if you experience a small setback, keep making those calls, because you will already be far ahead of where you were before you started.
For some of you, the rewards may not be instant. They may come months later. Book in meetings now that could lead to work in the near future.
I personally had a meeting in November, and that one meeting led to me being booked as a guest speaker for three events in early 2018 for a particular industry of small business owners.
Before you know it, your calendar will start to fill up, and it will not only be filled with meetings with leads and prospects, but also with client appointments.
Building relationships and consistently reaching out to people strengthens your business support network and creates opportunities for long-term business growth. When you intentionally nurture your small business support network, you position yourself to create value for others while also opening doors for future collaborations, referrals, and business success.
EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products, and services and improving productivity and cash flow.