Summary
Tips for maintaining an active and growing network by working on hybrid and remote models, segmenting contacts and seeking emotional connections.
If one of the prerequisites for true connection is eye contact and a greedy handshake, how can we keep our networks active and growing while working in hybrid and, above all, remote models? How can we truly create bonds even without leaving home?
One lesson the pandemic has left is that there are shortcuts to overcome distance. Although this path to connection is a little colder, it is possible to humanize it.
How about starting by segmenting your contact list? The first way is to identify who you want to talk to, but before moving on to the next steps, it is also time to update yourself on each of them, have a first trigger for contact and the best alternative is to be emotional.
And how do you divide this list? First think about new contacts, which are the people who are on your relationship goals radar. It could be a job opportunity, a leader you admire, someone in your company, or even a desire for a friendly connection with a friend of a friend.
So list 10 people and aim to connect with 5. At the end of this journey, the ideal is to have access to at least 2 of them. Yes, remember that connection simply means being in the network of that contact, and this can happen on Instagram, Linkedin or even getting the contact on WhatsApp, and this may not receive a response. Access has another configuration, because regardless of how you are connected, there is exchange between you and mutual interest. So look for these people in the networks or, at best, who can be a channel of connection with this contact.
There is no reason to block or shy in this access, as long as your message is not a “copy and paste” or a sales pitch. Really write the intention of that connection, whether it is admiration for the company, personal or professional history or affection for that person. And, made a sincere statement, express your interest in having 15 or 20 minutes for this exchange, suggesting a video call, something informal, but that allows you to have exclusive time for yourselves.
It is important to prepare for this conversation, strengthening the motivation for contact and trying to listen more than to speak. Look for emotional stimuli (a consequence of your previous research) and be interested in the life and history of the other person. Then conclude by proposing to go further with this contact, committing yourself to seize the opportunity to support a topic you discussed, finding some reason to continue this connection.
Continue to cultivate this contact and, when the time comes, it is time to propose that coffee that allows you to return to eye contact, with that good and true handshake – or, why not, a hug? After all, it is a moment of reflection and recognition of how much affection fills and nourishes our relationships.
She is an entrepreneur and president of Future is Now (a networking platform for leaders playing a leading role in the new economy), advisor to the CJE (FIESP Young Entrepreneurs Committee), mentor to the IFTL (Institute for Training in Technology and Leadership), and ambassador to the Sweet Club (business club of great entrepreneurs).
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
