“Networking, Can it be Learned?”

I hear people constantly say, that I am a natural networker, I wish I knew what that really means. I view it as me being me with a focus on a mutual opportunity, but only after I find what I can possibly do for them. Along the way, I meet some truly amazing people, many of which have become friends.

There is no such thing as the right venue for me. Yes, I belong to a BNI group, 15 years now and we meet every Wednesday morning, during that time period, I have given out over 2000 referrals, over 70% has turned into business for the person who got the referral.

I belong to a Breakfast Club that meets twice a month, which I have been part of for 6 months. I am not yet the number one referral giver as of yet, but that is my mission.

It doesn’t matter to me, if I am in the grocery store, waiting in a line at the bank or waiting for a table at a restaurant. Everyone I interact with is an opportunity, is that networking?

So, here is the question, when you are in a networking situation, is your focus what can I possibly do for the person who I’m speaking with. Who can I refer to them?

Most of the time, when I interact with folks in business, the focus is new business for them, rather than what they might be able to do for someone else. There is nothing wrong with bringing in new business, doing something for someone else, that will always bring future business back to you.

I am not sure the “how to” when it comes to networking, but if it is only about what’s in it for you, in my humble opinion, it can’t be learned.

Do you think networking can be learned?