Building Trust Through Genuine Connection: 4 Tips for Networking
By Sara Torpey, Business Coach at Torpey Coaching and Creator of Selling for Weirdos
As business owners who are trying to create success in a digital world, we tend to forget this one KEY truth:
Humans buy from humans.
And because humans buy from humans, it means that for business owners like us connection MATTERS. Genuine connection isn't just a strategy or a thing we do in business now and then - rather it’s a CORE tenet of building a functionally successful business.
So…that makes sense. Then what’s the problem? Why don’t we all just DO this all the time?
Well. First, we’re all working with limited time and resources because we are truly busy - and we want the time we spend on connections to be time well spent. And second? Genuine connection can feel intimidating - especially when we’re connecting both as humans (who are insecure!) AND as a business owner who has something meaningful they’re trying to grow.
If this feels familiar to you here are some simple tips that will help you connect more effectively - like a human - and grow your business BECAUSE you are human, rather than in spite of it, with the time you actually have.
# 1: Manage your expectations
Please know that you can’t predict every connection's outcome. Not every networking conversation will be (or needs to be) immediately "productive." Some of my most valuable relationships started with conversations I almost didn't have. Remember, the more people you know, the more opportunities emerge - so go know more people. All connections have potential.
# 2: Be You
Networking effectively is showing up as your genuine self - not the ‘official business-approved’ version of you. Whether you're silly, serious, or nosy (like me!) - be your natural personality. Potential clients want to connect with the real person because that’s who they’d ultimately be hiring or buying from.
# 3: Be Curious (even with people who aren’t your cup of tea)
I love learning about someone's first job, why they live where they do, or their childhood experiences - and they don’t have to be my new BFF for that to be true. Curiosity is the secret sauce that takes networking from a transactional interaction into a human conversation. Ask questions, be curious - you never know where it will go.
# 4: Just Share:
If you have a resource or insight that might help someone, share it - don’t hide. Your job is to offer what you have and if you don’t tell people what you have, they can’t get your help. Sometimes, the best connections happen when you're simply generous with your knowledge and are willing to share that you have resources someone else needs (generosity!!).
In the end, here’s the most important thing: when you connect with new people, you get to trust yourself, trust the process, and remember that connection is about being human (and you know all about how to BE a human, since you ARE one!). If you’re building a business that serves people, making time for people is never going to be a wrong choice.
Connection doesn't have to be complicated. It's about showing up, being curious, and remembering that behind every business interaction is a human waiting to be seen and asked a million nosy questions. :)
Since we’re talking about community, I’d love to invite you to join me in one of MY favorite places to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, The Prosper Network. Come feel welcomed by the community, connected to an AMAZING group of women, and invited into new (powerful!) relationships. I’ll see you inside!
Sara Torpey is the creator of Selling for Weirdos and a Business Coach at Torpey Coaching. She helps the teachers, helpers, and givers of the business world sell more and help more people by GIVING + INVITING instead of convincing.
You can learn more and find a time to CONNECT with her on her website.