A Winning Contacts Building Strategy

You will need other people in order to reach the apex of your success. Call it standing on the shoulders of giants or what you may. Contacts building strategies are vital for the upwardly mobile. A winning contacts building strategy focuses on quality & sustainability not just numbers for the sake of numbers.

Win Win Strategy

Focus on building contacts that you can get something from, as well as offer them something. Think not what your contacts can do for you, but what you can do for your contacts.

Personal Branding

Let your reputation precede you. If people hear about you before hand from a trusted friend or associate, they are more likely to be receptive to you and your ideas. Think of how you want to be perceived by potential contacts and stick with that image in your communication, grooming, speech and mannerisms.

Investment Mindset

Think of contacts as an investment. Think of how you can benefit from each other over the long term. Work on solidifying your relationship over time. Follow up with your contacts regularly providing value or friendship. Do not just approach your contacts when you need something from them. Let the power of compounding work in your favor.

Common Ground

Find a common ground with your contacts. Find something that you and they like besides what you want from them. You may find common ground in social groups, mutual friends, sports, current events, shared values, shared heritage etc. This may give you an edge at a most unexpected point in life.

Appreciation

People love to be recognized and appreciated. If one of your contacts does something significant or worth talking about, say thank you. Follow up with a note or a phone call. Recognize them publicly for their efforts if appropriate.

Do not be Desperate.

A wise old lady once told me that desperation is a foul smelling cologne. If people perceive you as too quick to grab their name or business card for selfish reasons they will shun you. Position yourself as someone worth knowing.

Patience

It may take a long time for your contacts building strategy to materialize. Do not give up. Everything comes to those who wait. If you are good at what you do, word of mouth will eventually pay off. Be patient and your contacts building strategy will pay healthy dividends.

Learn to Set Boundaries

Not everyone needs to be in your address book. Do not just take people’s business cards because they have been printed. Cherry pick the right sort of contacts for you. Without boundaries you would waste time that could be better spent enhancing the quality of your existing contacts.

All the best in your contacts building strategies.

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