If you are a small business owner, chances are the word "networking" gives you weird sense of uneasiness. You're not the only one. Networking strikes fear in the hearts of many people.
But let's face it: networking is an important tool for small business success. Even if you have the best product or service, with the lowest price possible, if nobody knows about it then you won't sell anything.
The good news is that networking groups can actually be fun, as long as you choose a small business networking group that suits you and your business. Today I'd like to suggest a group that you might not even realize is good for networking: Toastmasters.
When you hear "Toastmasters" you probably think of public speaking rather than networking. And you'd be correct, in a sense. Although public speaking is Toastmaster's main mandate, there are hidden networking benefits to becoming a member of this group.
For one thing, Toastmasters is recognized as a leadership building tool, so the people you will meet in your local Toastmasters group make great small business networking contacts. Public speaking is all about learning to speak eloquently and without fear while utilizing listening skills in order to recognize and react to another speaker's body language - thus gaining a deeper insight and understanding of their unspoken needs. In business, this knowledge is often worth its weight in gold.
At the same time, you will get practice in speaking well in many different settings, while learning how to recognize other people's body language and to use that knowledge to your advantage. And in any business, especially sales, knowing how to read other people is very useful. You get all of this while mingling with other individuals who might need your services or products, or who might refer you to someone else who does.
Giving speeches not only hones your public speaking skills, it also gives you the opportunity to speak about your business! You can use your time to your advantage by choosing a business topic for your speech. You are now "sharing" your business and improving your skills in one smooth move!
Some small business owners feels like they are "selling themselves" whenever they are in a networking event. But, if join Toastmasters, you won't feel like you're shoving your business down someone's throat. You are just someone who's meeting new people and practicing public speaking, while at the same time letting people know about your business or expertise.
Toastmasters chapters are available all over the United States and Canada. Although there's a small monthly cost to be a member, your investment will certainly pay off as you take advantage of this not-so-obvious small business networking group.
But let's face it: networking is an important tool for small business success. Even if you have the best product or service, with the lowest price possible, if nobody knows about it then you won't sell anything.
The good news is that networking groups can actually be fun, as long as you choose a small business networking group that suits you and your business. Today I'd like to suggest a group that you might not even realize is good for networking: Toastmasters.
When you hear "Toastmasters" you probably think of public speaking rather than networking. And you'd be correct, in a sense. Although public speaking is Toastmaster's main mandate, there are hidden networking benefits to becoming a member of this group.
For one thing, Toastmasters is recognized as a leadership building tool, so the people you will meet in your local Toastmasters group make great small business networking contacts. Public speaking is all about learning to speak eloquently and without fear while utilizing listening skills in order to recognize and react to another speaker's body language - thus gaining a deeper insight and understanding of their unspoken needs. In business, this knowledge is often worth its weight in gold.
At the same time, you will get practice in speaking well in many different settings, while learning how to recognize other people's body language and to use that knowledge to your advantage. And in any business, especially sales, knowing how to read other people is very useful. You get all of this while mingling with other individuals who might need your services or products, or who might refer you to someone else who does.
Giving speeches not only hones your public speaking skills, it also gives you the opportunity to speak about your business! You can use your time to your advantage by choosing a business topic for your speech. You are now "sharing" your business and improving your skills in one smooth move!
Some small business owners feels like they are "selling themselves" whenever they are in a networking event. But, if join Toastmasters, you won't feel like you're shoving your business down someone's throat. You are just someone who's meeting new people and practicing public speaking, while at the same time letting people know about your business or expertise.
Toastmasters chapters are available all over the United States and Canada. Although there's a small monthly cost to be a member, your investment will certainly pay off as you take advantage of this not-so-obvious small business networking group.
About the Author:
Want to find out more about small business networking groups, then visit Barbra Sundquist's home business website.
0 Comments
Postingan
