Hello my networking friend. Welcome back!

Did you reach out to a referral partner for a collab? How did it go? Email me at [email protected] and share your experience.

As we come to the third direction in this three part tour, I saved my favorite direction for last, networking DOWN.

Networking DOWN

Networking DOWN is the practice of seeking out the new business owners, or employees who have just started networking for their employer for the purpose of mentorship.

This is where your generosity muscles are strengthened, and where you both inspire and are inspired as you bring that person alongside you to show him the ropes. How do you choose your Padawan learner?

First, I would start paying attention to the questions that are asked of you when you network, and who asks them. If you are being asked about your expertise, the person asking might be a good candidate. Often others will notice a quality about you that for you seems natural, and compliment you on it.

If after a compliment, a fellow networker explains, "I could never be as good as you," or something similar, you have an opportunity staring you right in the eye.

If this networker is a likable fella, and seems open to new ideas, invite him to have coffee or lunch. During your time together, ask a lot of questions about challenges he faces, and give him one small suggestion. If he comes back right away with an excuse of why your suggestion won't work, you may want to keep looking for your Padawan. However, if he seems humble and grateful for the advice, you might decide to form a loose mentor/mentee relationship.

A Padawan Learner Has Been Found, Now What?

Once you've found your person, don't come right out and divulge your intentions. This might scare him off, when what he thinks is just a coffee get together turning into a formal relationship with a role he must play. My caveat would be if he explicitly asks to be mentored, then you can absolutely say yes, if your answer is yes.

Instead, set another appointment, and at this appointment, offer more advice. Depending on the situation, here are five actions you might explore:

• Help him discover the best places for him to network, based on his profession and personality.

• Challenge his ideas (my networking mentors do this, to my great benefit!) and ask lots of questions so he can see his ideas through another lens.

• Call him in between your meetings and ask him how things are going.

• Introduce him to your network, and provide lots of background on the person you are introducing him to, so he is set up for success.

• Give praise! This is powerful for people new to networking. They are meeting many new people, which can be exhausting. Your encouragement will go a long way to motivate him. One of my mentors, during our conversations, begins many of her sentences with, "Faithann what I love about you is...". Even though she says it often, each instance is unexpected, and I fly for a little bit in my head every time.

  

Continue to meet him as often as feels natural to you both and as your time permits.

Bring challenges, motivation, and encouragement to each meeting, and watch the inspiration flow between the two of you.

If you begin to notice he is requiring a lot of mentorship from you, it might be then time to recommend a business coach who can devote the appropriate time and expertise to his situation.

What's In It For Me?

A natural teacher at heart, I am thrilled when I get to bring someone new alongside me and help him succeed. If I had to nail down three reasons to network DOWN, I'd say:

• Helping others holds you accountable. You must practice what you preach after all.

• You know how hard being in business is. When you can carve out just a small piece of relief and hand it to him on a platter, you are telling yourself, deep in your bones, that whatever challenges come in business, there is an end in sight; there are people who will help.

• You build cheerleaders, which after a little while, helps you.

The charge is clear; go find a person who needs a lot of help, and help him.

One last piece of advice; be careful not to take on too many Padawans at once.

Go network DOWN my friend, and remember;

A Padawan learner is out there, waiting for you! Go lift him up, it's good for your soul.

Faithann Basore and her husband Dave have owned Window Cleaning Plus (WCP) for 9 years. Growing WCP through networking has given Faithann the desire to guide other small business owners through the networking terrain so they can feel comfortable and build long lasting relationships in their business.

Got networking questions? Email me at [email protected].