How do you define business networking?

I think business networking has developed a bad reputation in many people’s minds as being ineffective. I think that is an inaccurate assessment – if networking is done properly. Unfortunately, many networking venues that are really designed for social networking try to position themselves as business networking events. In these scenarios, there is more emphasis on drinking or meeting people for more personal reasons (like dates), and the amount of business networking done is minimal, or focuses on trying to strong arm others in the room into buying products or services as an individual.

In my world, business networking is a little different than a lot of others might define business networking. If I am networking, I am not necessarily trying to sell directly to the people I am engaging in conversation. I am much more interested in making connections with them and for them, so that multiple people benefit from the interaction. And in many cases, I don’t hope to gain anything directly from making the connections between them and others.

Going beyond just making introductions to direct leads, I also work to connect people who can collaborate to create a more complete offering, or who can supplement one another in their respective business development pursuits.

Above all, I think business networking requires getting a legitimate understanding of what the other person does, and how it would be beneficial to others. Otherwise, we can’t refer one another to appropriate partners and prospects.

I guess I would say business networking is all about meeting other people with the intention of helping everyone involved determine the best connections for them and helping them weave their business offerings with others to develop synergies beyond what the individual could create on their own – whether those be for business development or for creating super-offerings.

How do you define business networking? Add your thoughts to the discussion.