Be a Connector in Challenging Times

Director of Coaching at Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting

Challenging times are often the perfect time to really focus on being a connector. It’s a good time to reach out to others and make that personal connection to find out how they are doing and to ask if you can offer any help. Becoming or continuing to be a connector is an excellent way to build relationships and remember – people are more likely to refer and/or do business with those with whom they have developed a relationship. And helping others gives you a wonderfully positive feeling

Being a connector does take an investment of time as well as energy and to be effective it takes commitment but the rewards, both mentally and business-wise are well with it. When you are truly authentic in your desire to help others and you introduce people to one another – then you will find that the favor will be returned.

Here are a few tips you might consider if you decide to focus on being a connector:

• Start with people you already know – those on your contact list. Make two lists – first identify those who are bright and successful and then identify those who might be able to use some help in sharing news about and building their business.
• Then, just as you do with clients, consider how each of these people prefers to communicate. Then use that method to connect with several people from each of the above lists every week. Currently it’s an opportunity to check in and see how they are weathering the storm. Add this to your weekly calendar and create a new habit. Remember, this is not a sales “call”, it’s about checking in to see if you can be of assistance or just see how they’re doing or if they’d like to meet for coffee. As you make these connections you’ll learn more about them and then if you later meet someone or hear of a resource that might be a good “fit” you can make that connection
• Once you establish the habit of making these weekly connections you’ll start to add new people to that list because you’ll be developing a connector mentality and as you meet new people you’ll start to think about who they might like to meet and/or who you might connect them with.
• You will also want to decide the most effective and efficient way to keep track of notes and dates about these communications. Remember, what you write down and keep track of, gets done.
• Be authentic and sincere and always be sure to as permission before connecting people. Keep the connection alive by staying in touch – even if only periodically. It’s about building and establishing relationships. It’s also about that uplifting feeling when you can help others.
• Don’t let this plan become just a “good intention”. Take action, create a habit, and remember your intent – helping people through connecting them with resources and other people who could offer value to each other.

Sign up for Free Session of Operation Ignite – How to Create a Great Client Experience…Even When You’re Not in Person. Gail Doby, CVO & Co-Founder of Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting, interviewed 10 innovative creative business owners in a recent Master Class called Operation: Ignite. And we want you to have access to one of the most popular sessions… Gail talks with one of her favorite entrepreneurs and clients and they discuss how to authentically communicate with your clients to ensure any experience with you is real and memorable.