Leading Business Networking | September | 2013 | Page 9

or are uncomfortable in networking situations. They’re in the office all the time and they just don’t know what to expect,” says Poland, who also serves as a Chamber Ambassador. “Some people use LinkedIn, but I find that it’s harder to initiate the conversation there and get to know people. It’s all static and you’re only interacting with one dimension of a person.” Companies like Critical Data Solutions, Meridian Title Co. and others make it a point for employees to get out and about and meet new people. Those contacts may bring either direct business or referrals. “That face-to-face meeting is the foundation of the trust and respect you need for a successful business partnership,” says Susan Schricker, an account manager with Meridian Title Company. “I genuinely do have an interest in people. I look at (networking) as a challenge that’s fun and rewarding. You put yourself in a new position and you never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll come across.” A few years ago, Schricker worked the Chamber’s annual golf outing. At lunch, she located an open seat … and recognized no one at the table. “You really can’t be shy. You have to be proud of who you are and for whom you work,” she says. “I introduced myself and talked about Meridian’s services. … As it turned out, a person after lunch came up to me and said, ‘I think I have a project I can send your way.’ It wasn’t a company that would have used us all the time and, really, that person could have picked anyone for the work. That’s an example of what can come out of a nice chat.” ometimes, networking is more subtle than conversation. First State Bank of Middlebury has started providing shuttle service at the RV/MH Hall of Fame during the hours of Biz-Ness Expo. Lilly’s Party in Elkhart provides balloon bouquets to spruce up Chamber ribbon cuttings and member celebrations. The Re/ Max Mike Moore Team gives presentations to Biz-Ness Expo 2013 Nothern Indiana Event Center / RV/MH Hall of Fame | 21565 Executive Pkwy. ‘Explore’ networking opportunities at Thursday, Oct. 3 | 3-7 p.m. Register online at Elkhart.org Renew acquaintenances and spread the word about what your company can do for others. Contact Denise Polachek, [email protected], for sponorship and vendor opportunities. groups like the Chamber’s Education Council about its “Homes for Heroes” program. And those are just a few. Think about the candy jars, the coffee cups, jump drives and letter openers around the office. Maybe those aren’t quite as valuable as a professional relationship built with words and handshakes, but are noteworthy nonetheless because of the brand recognition. creating? With clarity, you’re much more focused … Biz-Ness Expo could be a great fit, but it depends on your market. … It’s such an important fundamental, knowing the target.” ll networkers seem to agree those preferred contacts come in varying levels. A face-to-face may result in a nice discussion with no chance for direct business; that person, though, may know someone and pass along a recommendation. “You can assume the average person knows 250 people – a person who is really into networking may have a much bigger group, but let’s call 250 the average. They, in turn, potentially know a total of 62,000,” Horn says. “When you’re meeting five or 10 people, you’re actually connecting with a lot more than you think.” A huge concentration – maybe 1,000 or more – of B2B-focused networkers at Biz ?W72W???f?"??7F?6R?6?&Rv??B??Rf?"?FV?F??6?W2?6???fV?VW2v?F?F?R&?v?BV??R6?&R?W7B2&V?Vf?6????WGv?&?W'2?v?2?fRF?&R??F?V?"v?R??RF?B?( ?F?R??RF???r??R?fRF?&V??R?( ?66?&?6?W"6?2?( ?2F??v?2???rF?R???B????f?"F?R?W2???R?2???F?f?GV???fRF?&V?WfR??v?B??^( ?&RF???r?&V?WfR??F?R6??????R&W&W6V?B??B&RF?V?B?6??WF??W2??^( ?&Rf?'GV?FR&?v?Bv??6??WF??W2?B?2F?&RF?V?B???R????BvWBWfW'?F???r??^( ?&RgFW"?'WBF?R&Wv&G2?b?WGv?&???rv???6??R?( ??( ???f?&?2?b?WGv?&???r&RF??RF?&?Vv?6???V??6F???26???V?2?( ?6?2??&??bF?Rw&?wF?6?6??b?6????( ?b??RF????7G&FVv?6?????W"6????v???vWB??&R?WB?b?B?( ?7G&FVw??2v?W&RF?R'B?B66?V?6RV?FW"F?R?7GW&R???R??v??B'W6??W72Vff?'G2???v?F?6??F??vV?6?W26?FWFW&??RF?R?WfV??b7V66W72???&?6?2?RF?W26??6?FW&&?R??V?B?bVGV6F??????W7BF?B7V7B?b?WGv?&???r?( ??R?fRF??'&?rF?RF&vWB?BvWB6??R6?&?G???v?B??^( ?&R6VV???r?( ??R6?2?( ?F????&?WBF?&VRF???w2?v??&R??RF???rF????r&R??RF???rF?F?V???Bv?B?2F?R?W76vR??^( ?&P??