Posted by Allison Shields: "Last week at a meeting of one of my networking groups, a question was posed about what changes we've seen in networking as a result of the current economic slowdown. Many people in the room - all of whom were active 'networkers' - stressed the importance of networking in general, but particularly when the economy is slow. In a difficult economic climate, it's more important than ever to maintain your existing relationships and continue building new ones.
Others pointed out that those seeking to cut costs should avoid making the mistake of cutting their marketing budgets to the bone and eliminating or cutting back on networking and related expenses. History has shown that those who cut their marketing efforts - particularly where those efforts revolve around creating and maintaining relationships - are the ones who fail to survive the slowdown, or who are behind the curve when the economy picks up.
I have noticed some new faces at the events and activities I've attended over the past several months and am sure that it is, at least in part, due to the economic slowdown. Lawyers who may not have felt the need to market themselves or to network in the past have realized that the changing economy requires a change in habits. So for those who are new to networking or may just be a bit rusty, I offer these thoughts for effective networking:
First, know yourself...
Know your clients and potential clients...
Communicate effectively...
Think first about what you can give, not what you will get...
Remember that the real networking happens outside the room...
Finally, be yourself and have fun!"
The full text of this post is available at the source site listed below
Source: Legal Ease Blog, 16 December 2008
