Tour 38 If is Tricky
"If" is tricky.
Imagine a mother is at the park with her 5 year olds twins, and has just handed one of the twins a fully inflated colorful helium balloon attached to a string with a loop at one end for his wrist, to wear gleefully for the next hour.
Then she hands his sister a balloon that is half inflated and dull. That mother is going to get, at the very least, a look from her daughter. A look of disappointment. A look of disapproval.
"But brother's balloon is so much bigger and better than mine," she might cry. And her cry would be justified.
"Let me know if there is anything I can do for you," is the half deflated, dull balloon we give others.
When we say to someone, "Let me know if there is anything I can do for you," we are still asking the person to jump through a hoop before we do anything to extend the help we've offered.
If we want to create and build a true relationships, let's ask questions that invite people to truly understand what they need.
Instead saying,
"Let me know if there is anything I can do to help."
Ask
"What could I do for you today, that might make the rest of your week just a tad bit easier to handle?"
Or
"How can I help you meet your goal?"
Or
"Who from my network might I introduce you to this week?"
Or
"How can I support you more?"
Or
"How can I help you spread the word about ____________?"
Save the "if" for the unruly teenager who needs to be reminded of consequences.
Let's not wonder "if" others need our help, let's assume they do.
And if you ask these genuine, relationship building questions and their answers are, "Nothing" (I highly doubt you'll hear this answer) at the very least you have built rapport. And you've began to build trust.
Go network my friend, and remember:
It's hard for others to ask for our help. Let's make it easy for them.
The Networker's Tour Guide, Faithann Basore, and her husband Dave have owned Window Cleaning Plus (WCP) for 10 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].
