Three ways to get the most out of networking

Having a hard time motivating yourself to venture out into the business community?

Maintaining a vigorous network is essential for keeping you and your business top of mind. Here are three ways to get the most out of your time spent networking:

Change your way of thinking. It’s easy to tell yourself that networking isn’t important. Be mindful of negative thinking that tempts you to pass up a networking opportunity. And don’t forget to give yourself a pep talk on the way to the meeting. It really helps! Positive self-talk can help you prepare to get the most out of your next networking event.

Seek out the shy. Some people are more reticent than others to network. Those quieter personalities may be a bit more difficult to get to know. But they could have a rich storehouse of connections and wisdom.

Listen intently. Listening is a skill, and practice makes perfect. Did you know that those who do more listening than talking often come out ahead in the self-promotion game?