Whether you are self-employed or working for an employer, you will need to master the art of business networking. Networking allows you to remain in the loop, stay informed of future developments that are not yet made public and to capitalise on people’s knowledge and expertise.

Business networking requires a systematic approach. You will need to identify what you want to gain from networking, how to allocate your resources, which people to focus on and where to find new contacts. Before attending networking sessions you will need to know how to present yourself using a carefully crafted but casually delivered personal pitch. Your aim is to create a positive and memorable impression on the people you meet through networking. The entire process is simply something that you need to practice on until you become good at each part.

The course helps you analyse your current networks and recognise your key contacts which can then be targeted. This helps to optimise time spent while networking.

The course provides you with a systematic approach to business networking. The exercises allow you to examine your current approach to networking and update them based on best practice guidelines.

The Business Networking training materials comes with plenty of exercises, case studies and examples that help to illustrate key points. The course finishes with an end-of-course exercise designed to get the delegates practice a variety of topics covered in distinct sessions. The package contains comprehensive trainer guidelines.

In this highly practical course participants will learn:

What is Networking?

• What are the benefits of networking?
• What do you aim to achieve while networking?
• What are various types of networking?

Six Stages of Relationships

• Why some relationships stagnate and don’t progress forward?
• How can you classify your relationship with people you know using the six stages?
• What strategies would help you to take your relationships to a new level?

Set Your Networking Goals

• What goals are bad?
• What goals are ideal?
• How can you use strategic positioning, much like in marketing, to promote your personal brand while networking?

Build an Efficient Network

• How to take advantage of corporate networking and position yourself in a way that helps you achieve your objectives?
• How can you analyse your network systematically?
• Which class of people should you focus on more?
• Which class of people should you avoid more to increase your networking efficiency? How can you improve your network step by step?

Find New Contacts

• Where to find new contacts?
• How to use a systematic networking plan?
• What are the biggest mistakes while searching for new contacts?

Develop Your Pitch

• What is a pitch all about?
• What are the qualities of a good answer when someone asks about what you do?
• What are examples of poor answers and why should they be avoided?
• How to use a Two-Part Statement Formula to generate a pitch that has the qualities of a good answer?

Attend and Perform

• What should you consider when attending a networking event?
• How to handle social discomfort?

Why it is important to get out of comfort zone?