Quick Tip: Be a Resource to Others

We often write about focusing your attention on how you can help others when networking. It is important to develop a skill both in being clear about who you are and how you can help and in finding ways to help others.

This might mean doing your homework on other attendees, but if that’s not possible, ask questions and listen carefully.

You can then identify potential ways that you can help them either professionally by offering your services, to providing a bit of ad hoc informal advice based on your area of expertise or by providing advice or recommendation based on your interests or connections, for example, making an introduction.

Use your networking planner to keep note of how you can help others and how you can potentially help them in the future. I also keep a list of resources and recommendation based on frequently asked questions that I get at networking events or when I meet new people.