Business networks have a world of positive benefits. However, with all the positives, come at least some negatives. So without further ado, let’s start with the positive pros in support of business networks:
The first positive point is;
You are actively participating in the accumulation of business contacts and letting yourself be seen. Many people complain that they simply do not know the right people to help them in the direction of their career.
When you are actively involved in business networks, you increase your chances of meeting the right people. Plus, if you connect successfully by sharing referrals, introducing people, and following up with the people you meet, the rewards will speak for themselves.
The second positive point is;
Your personal skill with people will slowly develop into an expert. This is a benefit that is not talked about much, but through trial and error, building good relationships will seem easy. Consider the fact that when your personal skills with people are right, you will see a phenomenal increase in the positive results you get from using all other communication, for example; phone, email, etc.
Third, on the optimistic side you are;
After being consistent, you will notice that your own center of influence expands. If you are actively involved in meeting, communicating, and generally helping many people, you will be appreciated and respected. When these kinds of things happen, your center of influence grows and you become highly respected by default.
4, on the high side is;
Networking regularly gives you the opportunity to talk a lot about your profession. You will have the opportunity to educate many people about what you do when you meet them. This situation makes you alert and more knowledgeable about your profession.
The fifth benefit of business networks is;
You are greatly increasing your overall options. As you network for better business returns, you will meet a large number of people who are not directly connected to your goals. Meeting people like this can benefit you in other ways like; find a good plumber, help you get hired by a new company, and any other specialist in a particular field. A personal referral usually has more merit.
And now, the alternatives or the disadvantages of commercial networks:
# 1. If you are an extreme example of a socially inhibited person, going out and networking could be very traumatic for you. I’m not saying it’s something you can’t get over, but it could be a not-so-positive experience.
# 2. You can find various events that may not be to your liking. This is an occupational risk from business networks where you attend business network events with high expectations, but are disappointed in the outcome. As with everything, this is not a justification for giving up, but it does happen.
# 3. The people in your newfound network have been as responsive as you’d like. It is very true that many people talk about a good game but in the heat of the moment, when you need them most, they can disappoint you.
# 4. A rebellious and undesirable individual can enter your life through networking. I know this is an aspect that is not discussed too often, but I have to be honest. Sometimes you can attract people through your friendly networking activities, which could be exhausting, if not detrimental, for your career.
And # 5. Networking doesn’t work for everyone. Yes, there are some people, as rare as they are, where networking and building relationships with different people just isn’t what they like. A small minority of people will find that no matter how hard they try, it just won’t give the results they want. This is sad but true.
So now you see the pros and cons on both ends. Personally, I believe that business networking is very important and it can work for most people in a positive way. Now, you must ask yourself: “Is it good or bad?” The answer is “good” and “bad”. It all depends on the perspective of “you”, the reader.
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