The Unwritten Rules of Networking for Brands & Entrepreneurs
As a young entrepreneur, networking and community building is an integral part of the daily business. The points highlighted in this article are derived from personal encounters and experiences gathered from reading, observing, and interacting with industry experts across several fields of creative businesses. I like to refer to these rules as unwritten because while they are some commonly agreed ethical standards observed in human interactions, some hidden gems can help you build and solidify professional relationships hence propelling your brand to the next level.
- Develop a Positive Aura
The four-letter words “aura “as simple and warming as they sound could either be the stepping stone to your breakthrough or unobserved the hindrance to unlocking one’s greatness. If you listen to your inner voice carefully, you often can tell if you would like to meet someone again or not. This God-given instinct envelopes the whole concept of aura. What energy do you bring with you when you walk into a room, is it one that radiates ease or is it one that gives up negative energy even before you speak?
Over the years, I have come across individual personalities whose auras spell calm self-confidence, respect, and tolerance. I have drawn inspiration from a few key counterparts these days when I walk into a room I make sure to greet everyone genuinely with an honest smile and introduce myself with a firm handshake regardless of their titles or positions. A positive aura will be a tool that can attract the right set of people into your network and circle. Also, keep in mind that word gets around really quickly in most industries, never underestimate the power of first impression.
I’ve learnt that people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou
2. Be a good listener
I was in a restaurant eavesdropping on a couple. It seemed like both were waiting to have their moment to respond as quickly as possible. It made me aware of how guilty I was of this and sparked the consciousness, which made me realize that hearing is different from listening. Real listening is the art and service of paying close attention to someone, seeking to understand rather than waiting to give a reply that states your position or concerns. When you become a good listener, you become easy to talk to; this results in trustworthiness. This trust eventually leads to loyalty, which is essential for long term relationship building. Allow people to tell their stories and share their special moments with you because everyone loves a good listener.
3. Not every opportunity comes with a price tag
The hip hop culture, which has highly be one of the most influential parts of my life through media and lifestyle has very much perpetuated the concept of “if it doesn’t make no money then it don’t make no sense. “ This is one common mistake I see lots of young creatives making in their industries today. When starting a career, the main focus should be to reach new audiences to put your art or creative ideas in front of the right people and hence on the map.
When an opportunity presents itself, be one to recognize it regardless of if it comes with immediate gratification in the form of cash. One can gather experience, build contacts, and increase the likelihood of being recommended for specific jobs. That way, when a more significant opportunity arises, you’ll be easily referred to based on reputation. This concept does not imply that you should offer your services for free at all times instead be the one who’s able to find the right balance and realize when an opportunity could enrich your creative portfolio. Every gig, performance, or event is a chance to harness your skills further and sharpen your experience.
There are no cheat codes, no life hacks or shortcut to success. You have to embrace the process before you can reap the rewards
Charlamagne Tha God
4. Do not burn bridges:
As a brand or young entrepreneur, you will come across different characters through your journey. Don’t be too quick to write anyone off based on their current status or titles; the person at the so-called “bottom of the food chain” could very well be the boss tomorrow. One golden rule which I employ in my daily dealings with people is “treat people how you want to be treated”. In business dealings, be clear about whether or not you wish to take on a project as life is too short for mixed signals. Most industries are a lot smaller than we imagine when a relationship doesn’t play out how you expected, uphold your standards, and leave the situation in good fate. People often remember how a deal or partnership ended more than the actual process.
5. As an entrepreneur, you will come across several people, sometimes even across the very ones who have inspired us to chase our dreams. Lots of people are quick to ask for favors and try to get what they can as soon as possible. Stand out by being one who has done some research on the person they are meeting; that way, you have more ample time to learn more about their current projects and can offer expertise or support. It is essential to provide this subtly and organically without being pushy.
On a closing note, I would like to point out that networking is a learning process, which one could enhance with every meeting. A simple approach that I apply is to reflect on conversations and by being open to implementing new tweaks with each chance. No one person knows it all. It could also be helpful to review your approach with your team members and be susceptible to constructive criticism as this is the pivot to sustainable growth.
Greetings from Germany
Garey Godson
ROOM OF UNDERSTANDING
“discover inspire accelerate
