If you are a small business owner, chances are the word "networking" gives you weird sense of uneasiness. You're not the only one. Business networking strikes fear in the hearts of many people, and many small business entrepreneurs avoid doing it.
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.
Another advantage of Toastmasters is that their training provides a variety of communication tools that promote spontaneity in both thoughts and actions. It is also designed to provide its members with performance improvements guaranteed to hone leadership skills, build confidence and improve self-image. All of this happens while you are interacting with other people who may need your product or service, or know someone else who does.
In Toastmasters you get the chance to practice communication skills by giving speeches. Why not choose a business topic for your speech? That way you not only hone your communication skills, you also display your business expertise at the same time!
The thing that most people dread about small business networking events is the feeling that you have to "sell" yourself, and the fear that no one is interested in hearing about you and your business. By joining a group like Toastmasters, you can meet people and inform them about your business without feeling that you are imposing on them. It's a win-win!
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.
Another advantage of Toastmasters is that their training provides a variety of communication tools that promote spontaneity in both thoughts and actions. It is also designed to provide its members with performance improvements guaranteed to hone leadership skills, build confidence and improve self-image. All of this happens while you are interacting with other people who may need your product or service, or know someone else who does.
In Toastmasters you get the chance to practice communication skills by giving speeches. Why not choose a business topic for your speech? That way you not only hone your communication skills, you also display your business expertise at the same time!
The thing that most people dread about small business networking events is the feeling that you have to "sell" yourself, and the fear that no one is interested in hearing about you and your business. By joining a group like Toastmasters, you can meet people and inform them about your business without feeling that you are imposing on them. It's a win-win!
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:
Learn more about small business networking groups. Stop by Barbra Sundquist's home business website.
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