Working
Lunches

Networking is a very important
element in building a business and
should be an integral part of any
growth strategy. The benefits of
building up a network extend far
beyond being an opportunity to
prospect for new customers or
clients.
Regular contact with your network
also allows you to stay abreast of
developments in the industry,
monitor the activities of your
competitors and exchange best
practices.
One of the best times for networking
is the lunch break. Tempting as it
might be to use this time to chat
with colleagues, it can often be
more productively spent cultivating
your network. Here are some tips on
successful lunchtime networking:
·
Try to schedule at least two
‘network lunches’ a week
·
Use some meetings to develop new
relationships and others to
cultivate existing ones
·
Research your lunch guest beforehand
and develop specific objectives for
the meeting
·
Never arrive empty handed – always
take a ‘gift’ such as a useful
contact number, a helpful tip, or an
article of interest
·
Use the time productively – pass
quickly through the small talk and
get down to business as soon as
courtesy allows
·
Don’t let the meeting drag on – an
hour is usually sufficient for a
network lunch
·
If you set up the lunch, pick up the
tab
·
Follow up with a courtesy call
and/or a hand-written note

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