Be Genuine & Straight Forward: How To Link with Others You Don't Know pt.3

Like many of you who read my blog I get inundated with LinkedIn requests.
This whole series of articles was inspired by several LinkedIn requests I received recently, and frankly they were the straws that broke the camel's back.

Other articles talked about: So far we've talked about:
ask-questionsmeet-them
bad-linkedin-responses
Here is one more response to the person that asked me how do I link with someone I don't know who might be able to help me?
Good question.

Answer:
Be direct, genuine, straight forward.

The lion in the picture above doesn't worry about putting on a show for others. He always acts like himself as what he is, a lion.
You do the same. Be yourself. Don't just ask random people to be part of your network (no matter what social media site, email program, or live event you are using) without a solid reason that is direct and speaks to them to make them want to talk to you.

I wish I had all the time in the day to meet with the random people that want me to connect with them (i.e. job seekers, salespeople, soon to be stalkers-don't laugh I've had three in my life). Since I don't know who you are I can't endorse you to my network as someone I know and trust...yet.

No matter if you are using LinkedIn, blind emails, phone calls, or meeting in person, as you way of networking, always be sincere and genuine about your interest in that person, topic, etc. Be yourself. After introducing yourself and maybe some chit chat about how we might know each other or have in common, tell me directly how I can help you.

Don't include sob stories, editorial comments about politics, your jobs, or people in the room. Just tell me how you think I can help you, what question you have, or some other reason for us to keep talking. Be professional. Be polite. ask the person you want to connect with a question about the industry that can help you, or on a common interest. Don't meander around in conversation. Get to the question as direct as you can.


There are a lot of other people in the "networking meeting room of life." It is okay if we can't help each other to say so and move on to the next people instead of standing there with some strange feeling of obligation to keep talking to each other while looking for an excuse to leave the conversation. Maybe we can help each other. Offer to buy the person a coffee or meet them at another time so that both of you can continue to circulate. The next person you meet might be able to help you, or maybe the person that couldn't help you. I've often connected two people that I couldn't help with each other. Usually that leads to one of those people doing the same for me because they remember I did that for them.

People are busy. Being direct, but genuine, with someone else's time is polite and professional
Being direct and saving their time gets their attention and make them interested in responding to you.

Give it a try.

Ev
A Heck of A Nice Guy