Bozen /Liverpool – As the end of the year approaches and the refrain from that well-known Christmas song „… another year over and what have you done” is heard, it might be time to wonder how to make business grow and one‘s career profile flourish in the year to come. In the ‘ideas game‘ success and personal advancement are often about effective networking, creating relationships with others so as to be exposed to different ways of thinking and different ways of going about things. In a still difficult economic climate positioning one’s business and one’s individual profile in such a way as to get maximum return is a fundamental consideration. The British have a reputation for coming up with innovative solutions when it comes to facing a crisis or two, so a look at the latest trends emerging over in that little island could be worthwhile.
The contradiction when it comes to the British of course is that they are often considered in the popular imagination to be conservative and stand-offish, but in reality when it comes to the crunch they are quite a gregarious bunch, and in no context is this truer than in the business arena. A number of networking initiatives are having a great deal of success in the UK and are growing in number and in geographical coverage. One of these is a clever play on the word networking for it is little else than netwalking! This is not some Spiderman style escapade of walking over a net hung across a canyon but quite simply a stroll in the countryside or the hills or along a river bank, where the focus is on conversational exchange to do with business topics. Walking has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, improve self-esteem and boost self-confidence. It is a multi-sensory and stimulating experience that clears the mind and allows escapism from the stresses of everyday life. Furthermore the exchange with others can stimulate thinking and lead to one thinking a little outside the box when it comes to work related topics. In true British fashion the phenomenon has led to clubs and associations being formed so that one can easily become a member of a local group and be informed of dates and locations of the forthcoming hikes. The outings can be structured so that a particular topic is suggested for conversation purposes or there might be a coach or topic expert who introduces the theme to participants before the excursion begins. Of course, and again in true British fashion, the walk will often finish in a pub for a pint or two, and in this setting conclusions and ideas roll readily off the tongue! If there is one thing about the British which facilitates this type of exchange it is that in sporting and outdoor activities generally any class notions are quickly left behind and the interaction between folk is fairly open and frank without any inhibitions. And what about the weather? It is easy to imagine that one outing in three takes place in less than ideal weather conditions so it speaks volumes for the resilience of the British – or is it that they just have a perverted sense of what enjoyment is about? Whatever the case, the attitude to self-help and general enquiry is a commendable one. A little google search and research will reveal a lot more about how netwalking can be organised.
The mix of business and pleasure is not confined to healthy outdoor pursuits, for another concept enjoying huge success in Britain is the Breakfast Club. It functions in this way. Members meet once a week at around 7.00 in the morning in quite a formal setting and breakfast is served to all. Yes, at times it is the full British breakfast of sausage, bacon, eggs and beans with toast and gallons of tea added so as to satisfy the traditionalists. During breakfast each member has two or three minutes to speak and update on their business news and mention opportunities which might be of interest to fellow members. One member a week has the chance to speak for ten minutes and go into more detail on a theme which he or she believes to be of interest to the group.
Over a number of weeks and months and even years the relationship between members is consolidated and much thinking around the table and ideas on how best to sell and promote one’s services come to mind. The Clubs are organised in such a way that participants are drawn from different professions and walks of life so you will quite easily have a bookkeeper, a lawyer, a travel agent, an insurance agent, a motor mechanic, a painter and decorator, around the same breakfast table.
It is indeed the social element which is often a common denominator when considering the emerging trends on ways to best take forward one’s business and highlight its name and benefits. Of course not everybody has the discipline and the urge to get up so early and face a breakfast table, nor to have a couple of hours to play with early morning. Thus, for the more discerning and more time conscious what better solution than speed business introductions? This format usually takes place of an early evening and is celebrated by an aperitif in hand. Quite simply it is a non time-consuming and non-committal way of passing around one’s business cards. Of course there are overtones here of speed dating and no doubt a romance or two has developed from the exchange of business cards, but fundamentally it enables you to get your business message across to a good number of people in a short time. The coordinator ensures that too much time is not spent with one person for as in brainstorming it is the rapid nature of the exchange which is the secret and ensures the involvement of all.
And how about this for another example of social intercourse? In many UK cities now there are Downtown Business Clubs which organise a whole host of activities for members, these ranging from guest speaker events, forums, debates to annual awards, and to even sexy cocktail evenings. The emphasis is on getting out and about and making your business shine. Certainly it is a little like the American salesman approach of living on a shoe-shine but in modern day society it is very true also that it is who you know as well as what you do which is essential for success.
One striking example of how far this concept of ‘up and go‘ can be taken is in the utilities industry for with the deregulation of gas, electricity, and telefonics long established in Great Britain the competition to win clients, householders as well as business owners, is fierce. What has grown up is a type of pyramid marketing structure where individuals can make a healthy living by recruiting new clients and earning a percentage on both client acquisition and future consumption levels. Such is the interest in this business opportunity that a series of networking events, with new members being enticed with offers of winning holidays and cars, are commonplace in many cities. Yet again it is the mix of the social occasion and potential earning which proves so attractive.
And the list could go on as to what the Brits invent to promote themselves and their services. Perhaps at the core of everything is the call to consider doing something a bit different so as to give something extra to one‘s own life and to the life of others – after all isn’t that what Christmas and New Year are all about? Season’s reflections and good luck with resolutions for 2014 to one and all!