Networking Thursday: Expect nothing, give everything

Second in the Networking Thursdays series. Last week we discussed the need to define networks you want to be involved in. This week it’s all about expectations. What do you expect from others you meet and what do expect from yourself?

give-expect How would you feel when someone you just met calls and asks something? You would probably help him, but you wouldn’t feel too good about it. You had high expectations during some networkingsession, thought you would find some new business, came home disappointed and received an e-mail from someone asking you a favour.

Never go to a networking event expecting to find new business. Networking is about giving rather than receiving. And maybe that’s not entirely right. Maybe people tend to go to networking events expecting too much. They expect to find the million dollar contract because they need it. And there could be the difference… between people who network because they NEED to and those who do because they WANT to. The latter has a better chance of gaining something out of it in the long run than the first one.

In fact, you should be honoured that other people ask you something. People hardly ever recognize the power and respect that comes with a question. It means the person asking the question thinks you can help them, have the answer, have more knowledge about the subject than they do,… it should feed your ego to answer questions. (serious questions, not giving directions to the bathroom ofcourse) And indirectly it means that whenever they (or someone from their network) has a problem they can’t fix, you’re the ‘expert’ they’ll call to fix it! Only than… after all the IF’s, that’s when networking pays off.

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HansDeLeenheer 1 year ago 1 point
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And given the fact you helped a 'stranger' without hesitating will someday payoff when that man returns you the favour!

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Tom_Vanlerberghe 1 year ago 1 point
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Just as long as you don't help people expecting something in return. Creating expectations can jeopardize whatever relationship you could build with someone.

Thanks for coming to this place too :)

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