This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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Do you want to level up your networking game? What are some networking tips that can help you maximize the chances of your networking efforts being successful?
Becoming a prolific networker will give you a reputation for having good people skills, making it easier for you to gain positions managing others. In Never Eat Alone, Ferrazzi gives tips on networking and professional relationship building.
Keep reading for Keith’s Ferrazzi’s networking tips from Never Eat Alone.
Networking Tips From Keith Ferrazzi
In Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi discusses how to develop fulfilling and mutually beneficial professional relationships and shares a handful of networking tips to maximize the chances of your networking efforts being successful.
Tip 1: Define Your Professional Goals
Before you start to network with people, take time to clarify your professional goals. Defining your goals will help you channel your networking efforts in the right direction. For example, a passionate and skilled public speaker could set the goal of becoming a media spokesperson. Naturally, it would make sense to network with people who can provide this opportunity.
Once you’ve identified your professional goal, the next step is to make what Ferrazzi calls a “Relationship Action Plan” (RAP). This is a written plan that details who should be in your professional circle to help you get there.
Tip 2: Take Time to Follow Up
Following up with your contacts is crucial to keeping your relationships strong for two reasons. First, frequently reaching out to your existing contacts shows that you care about them. You wouldn’t make such an effort to contact them if you didn’t. People are more likely to continue relationships that make them feel appreciated.
Second, if you fail to follow up with new contacts, they’ll quickly forget about you. Many professionals meet dozens of new people each week, and it’s near-impossible for them to recall the names and faces of all of them. By following up with these contacts, you remind them of your existence and ensure that you’re the new acquaintance who sticks in their mind.
Tip 3: Be Audacious
In a networking context, “audacity” means being bold enough to network with total strangers. If you limit yourself to networking only with people you’re already somewhat familiar with, you shut yourself off from the opportunities and insights that strangers can provide.
One of Ferrazzi’s greatest networking successes came from boldly introducing himself to a stranger at the World Economic Forum, back when he was an unknown businessman. That stranger happened to be Phil Knight, the founder of Nike. While Ferrazzi and Knight didn’t speak for long, the former’s audacity made an impression on the latter. Later, when Ferrazzi set up his media and marketing company, Knight became one of his first high-profile customers.
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Here's what you'll find in our full Never Eat Alone summary :
- How to build and maintain a successful professional network
- The 4 key strategies to building up a network
- Why you have to put in work to keep your network relationships strong
