When you’re in a first time 1 on 1 meeting or in a Zoom breakout room during an event do you ask for and expect to get new clients? If so, how’s that working out for you? When I used to do that 95% of the time, I heard crickets.
I’ve stumbled across something that might help you out.
Think Outside the Box
Tell people what you do and who you work with, of course. They expect to hear that. Then take one different step forward and ask for an “outside the box” connection. In my case rather than asking for clients I ask for podcast guests which are usually visionary serial entrepreneurs and for entrepreneurial influencers and organizations that will take a look at my book and share it with their audiences if they like it.
If I’m speaking with you and ask for a client there’s personal risk in that. You don’t know if I’m good at what I do, how can you refer me business the first time you meet me?
If I ask you for podcast guests and help with my book, there’s little or no risk to you. Those are easier requests.
Building Relationships is Good For Business Development
I’m not saying not to do business development, if you’re an entrepreneur you have to. I’m just suggesting that you do it by taking time to build relationships instead of just prospecting. Some of those people I mentioned, over time as we traveled through the know – like – trust continuum have become clients and referral sources and vice-versa. I wouldn’t have met most of them if I only asked for new clients.
Do the same for the person or people that you’re speaking with. Ask them what projects they’re working on and besides clients, who else are they looking to meet? What “outside the box” connections might be helpful to them? Another one of my examples is there was a point in time I needed a publisher more than my next client but that doesn’t come up unless you move “outside the box”.
Think about that for yourself. Think about how you would feel is people asked for those connections. If this resonates with you change up your requests for introductions in your next meetings.
Want to get your big idea across better in networking meetings? Check out this podcast episode: “How to Clearly Communicate Your Big Idea with Steve Woodruff”
You can get my book here: “Idea Climbing: How to Create a Support System for Your Next Big Idea”
