NetWorking in the Nutmeg State . . . and Beyond!

The National Networker New England Division recently caught up with Connecticut-based networker and author Bill Kenney who runs www.networkingyou.com

Bill left the corporate world nearly 10 years ago to focus on networking.

Bill and I covered a variety of networking topics during our interview including how to ward off individuals who want to sell to the group rather than network with the group, centers of influence, and the importance of preparedness in networking.

We have all been there (right?) the person who joins a Chamber or BNI, it can be anywhere, who wants to see their product or service to the people in the group, make as many sales as they can, not give referrals, and the disappear. According to Kenney, one way to deflect their sales pitches it to say “that’s not why I came here today”.  Give yourself permission to say no and don’t enable the bottom feeders.

Preparedness is another ingredient that Kenney mentioned for a successful recipe for networking.  For example, if you are going to an event try to find out who is going to be there in advance.  Perhaps you can get a roster emailed to you hours before the event.  Once at the networking event, try to seek out people that you may know who can act as a human link to introduce or connect you to someone who is in your Center of Influence.

Your center of influence is simple yet extremely powerful.  Who in the room can help you build your network by who they know and what they know?  What knowledge do they possess and what relationships have they built and maintained?

We also discussed why networking groups sometime fail and it undoubtedly is the type of format employed and the lack of preparedness on the part of members and leadership teams.

Bill runs a networking boot camp and has worked with major accounting and insurance firms throughout the region to teach their employees how to network effectively.

Bill Kenney will be running a networking boot camp at the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce in West Hartford, CT on November 2 and November 9.  Please contact the Chamber directly at www.whchamber.com for more information.

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Please contact Bill at BillP@TheNationalNetworker.com.