Forwarding is the New Networking by Mindy Selinger, author of Face to Face Networking
I was forwarded a link to an article by Tom Davenport of the Harvard Business Review, ‘Forwarding is the New Networking’. How’s that for a bit of irony for you? I’ve been teaching the importance of sharing information for the past five years. It’s wonderful to see an article that supports it. I adhere to this definition and concept of business networking: Networking – The exchange of ideas, information, and resources. [From Megatrends by John Naisbett] You can share any article with hundreds of your closest business associates by learning to use all those book marks and forwarding social networking buttons.
The world is getting smaller at the click of a mouse because social media use is now so prevelant. Our networking reach is unlimited. Will be become better networkers because of this? Not necessarily. It’s the quality of the connection that is important. Forwarding along information that is valuable to them is a wonderful way to let someone you met a business networking event know you’re thinking about them and what their needs are and staying in touch.
Be careful though. Don’t get in to the habit of just regurgitating the same old information to everyone. Give it a personal touch. Include a note on why you thought this information would be useful to them.
Recently, one of my connections, that I met at a business networking event, sent me some information on a resource along with her thoughts on how I might use that resource. I saw the benefit and took action. The result was tremendous! I’m so thankful!
I think Benjamin Disreali summed it up very well…. “As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information” (I’m sure he meant to include women, as well)