A Wise Approach to Networking By Ruth Gatling, Mid-Atlantic Bureau Chief    Ruth's Bio    Email article     RSS feed       Share on  facebook

When I go to a networking event, I go with three goals in mind:

1. Meet at least one person with whom I can cultivate a mutually beneficial business relationship or whom I can connect with someone in my network,
2. Learn something that will be of value to my business and/or my clients,
3. Find new opportunities for more networking.

If I achieve two out of the three I consider my time well spent. If I achieve all three, the event is a huge success.

Often though, I find myself leaving an event with a stack of business cards, frustrated and disappointed having invested time with individuals who don’t necessarily share my goals.

For me, the formula for a great networking event is this: Run the event like you would run a business. Make it efficient, give good customer service, offer a value add, but most importantly, deliver! After all, the food can be wonderful, the venue picturesque, the promotion flawless, but if spotlight is shining on collecting business cards instead of on making connections; in my book, it’s all for naught.

Needless to say, I’m always looking for great networking opportunities; the kind that fit my formula. As a part of my quest, I’ve signed up on Meetup.com. I get notices about meetup groups that focus on small business, entrepreneurs and women owned businesses.

Not all meetups are created equal, but a few weeks ago, I got an email about a meetup group in Manhattan that seemed to fit the bill.

The W.I.S.E. (Women Inspired to Seek Excellence) meetup has the perfect networking mission – to authentically connect you with amazing resources, developmental opportunities, and other success-minded entrepreneurs and creative individuals. The luncheon that I attended delivered just this, and more. The food was great, the venue picturesque, the promotion flawless, the value add? A published author and excellent speaker, and the networking … well, the networking was stellar!

Janet Wise, the brain woman behind this meetup group, is the founder/Ceo of WISE Solutions, a company whose focus is on connecting, inspiring and empowering professionals. She encourages attendees to build relationships, collaborate, expand networks and share knowledge. I came away with a few business cards of people I wanted to get to know better and a few more of people that I wanted to introduce to others in my network (goal 1). I picked up quite a few tips, not just from the speaker, but from some of the other W.I.S.E. participatants (goal 2).

With such a great experience under my belt, I followed links via Janet’s meetup page to another meetup group that she recommends – The NYC Business Networking group. Again, this is a group after my own heart. The focus is on meeting a few people that you really want to meet as opposed to meeting a whole lot of people who may or may not be a good long term fit (goal 3).

Well, through The NYC Business Networking group meetup, I’ve learned of the Day Of Marketing, a two day event, May 16 and 17 at Columbia University, co-sponsored by The Columbia Coaching Center of Excellence. Now, this looks really cool, and I got another goal 3 out of the deal!

So to go full circle – I go to a networking event with three goals. For anyone who shares my goals, check out the W.I.S.E meetup in Manhattan and The NYC Business Networking group, also in Manhattan. And if you decide to go to the Day of Marketing, let me know. I plan on attending, and reporting back to TNNW readership. Input is always welcome.

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