Networking is more than just exchanging business cards and hoping for the best. In a world where 85% of jobs are filled through networking, it's crucial to build and nurture relationships. Mo Bunnell, founder and CEO of Bunnell Idea Group (BIG), and Yiannis Gavrielides, CEO of Covve, discuss the habits that can take your networking game to the next level with valuable insights and engaging personal anecdotes.
Yiannis and his team created Covve which hosts cutting-edge networking solutions that help people nurture their networks, because they were frustrated with the lack of tools available for relationship building. Today, they are taking Covve a step further by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) for more efficient networking practices, and will host their own series of discussions with experts from various fields to share knowledge and insights on networking.
Getting into their discussion, let's explore some key parts while keeping it as "spoiler-free" as possible.
The key to successful networking habits is building trust through reciprocity. Mo believes that reciprocity is essential in building trust and nurturing relationships. People are more likely to say yes to those they can relate to. He recommends focusing on building long-lasting relationships, rather than just selling yourself.
If you are curious to find some of the best methods of boosting touch-points with your contacts, the two suggest that being the "link" is the best way to go about it. By connecting two people together, a good networker not only expands their network, but helps others build theirs up as well. This is what good networking is all about, building relationships based on trust and helping people make the right connections.
One of the most exciting highlights of their podcast is the intuitive examples Mo and Yiannis offer on introducing someone to a new contact and exploiting commonalities between contacts to stay connected and empower relationships. For example, Mo and Yiannis have a mutual passion for barbecues, a topic on which they share their best practices as pitmasters and give each other advice and recommendations for those perfect, crispy "burnt ends." Through a mutual interest, Mo and Yiannis can keep their relationship fresh and relevant over time.
Networking has many benefits, including finding the next step in your career and having a positive impact on mental health. However, implementing these benefits is a matter of practice and habit. By practicing the habits outlined by Mo and Yiannis, you can take your networking game to the next level and create long-lasting relationships based on trust.
Don't miss out on discovering the best networking habits practiced by networking experts. Watch their discussion in the video that follows.