Welcome to the tenth week of the Programme!
As you enter the final weeks of the Programme, we hope that you’ve developed a strong relationship with your mentor and that you’ve begun to forge ties with several other entrepreneurs. If you haven’t, we’d like to encourage you to start this week, especially because we’re talking about the value of networks!
Most of you already know the value of networks from past business experience, but this week is an opportunity to further learn about the importance of these relationships. You will be exploring and brainstorming some steps that will help improve your existing networks and build future connections, especially in industries that may be more valuable to your operations. Much of your work this week is hands-on; you will be speaking with friends and colleagues about their ongoing projects and considering how you can help them accomplish some of their current objectives.
During this process, we encourage you to interact with your mentor and other Programme participants to brainstorm new ideas and learn from each other’s experiences.
Project To Dos
Read Glossary
Read "Network Article"
Think back to your Personal Skills Assessment.
What sort of skills do you have? What sort of skills does your business need? Where might you find those skills?
Brainstorm local network hubs.
Consider the organisations and hubs where you are already connected, and think of other organisations or social groups where you would like to be involved. You may already be involved with all of the potentially meaningful or enjoyable groups, or there may be others that you are interested in joining. Consider individuals within your network who can help you navigate potentially new organisations.
Complete "Network Assessment"
Go talk to your friends and colleagues about the projects they are working on, and what sort of help they need. Think about how you could help them.
Complete "Networking Worksheet"
Think about ways you can involve other local businesses in your work.
Recall all of the individuals with whom you&'ve spoken in the past weeks of this programme: friends, family, colleagues, and other businessmen and women around your local area.
Brainstorm how you can continue to support each other once this programme is complete, and discuss these ideas with at least two of these individuals.
Identify local business conferences to attend within the next three months, then register and put them on your calendar.
Find the Forum topics that are relevant to your industry
Think about the people in your network right now. Who should meet each other? Can you make that introduction?
Brainstorm some ways you can work with people in your network, then go over these options with your Mentor.
Glossary of Terms
Network
A network is a group of people who are connected based on shared interests. The strength of a network is measured by a member’s ability to quickly get other members to take specific actions.
Collaboration
A collaboration is a partnership between two or more people that is designed to create a desirable outcome.
Network
A network is a group of people who are connected based on shared interests. The strength of a network is measured by a member’s ability to quickly get other members to take specific actions.
Collaboration
A collaboration is a partnership between two or more people that is designed to create a desirable outcome.
Network Article
Your network of family, friends, and colleagues is your most important tool as a professional, not just as an entrepreneur. Each of these people can give you access to new and exciting opportunities through their unique set of relationships. Your network is the key that opens many doors, so make sure you know how to use it.
Many people think about a network in terms of personal benefit. These people can all do favors for you, potentially. The best way to start building a network, though, is to do favors for everyone else. Think of networking as a “we” activity, not an “I” activity.
You should offer to help other people in your network. You can spend some time talking to them about work, or their idea for a business, or a personal issue. Listening carefully and giving advice are both great ways to help someone else. Maybe your response gives that person the insight they need to finally make an important decision.
Network connections work in another interesting way, too. You should be thinking about people that you know who would enjoy meeting each other or even working together. Collaboration is a key part of a good network. Try to get to know a lot of people, especially in your local area, who are working on interesting companies and projects.
The reason why you do favors and make introductions is simple. Other people will do the same thing for you. A network should be dynamic, with constant interaction among the people inside it. When a network is working well, talented people will be attracted to it. You get introduced to interesting and experienced professionals. Your business will do better as a result.
Think about the importance of a good network when you need to hire a new employee. There may be two or three great candidates in your local area who are willing to work for a low salary. If you don’t know them, however, you will end up hiring someone less talented who wants more money. Your business will suffer as a result.
Your network of family, friends, and colleagues is your most important tool as a professional, not just as an entrepreneur. Each of these people can give you access to new and exciting opportunities through their unique set of relationships. Your network is the key that opens many doors, so make sure you know how to use it.
Many people think about a network in terms of personal benefit. These people can all do favors for you, potentially. The best way to start building a network, though, is to do favors for everyone else. Think of networking as a “we” activity, not an “I” activity.
You should offer to help other people in your network. You can spend some time talking to them about work, or their idea for a business, or a personal issue. Listening carefully and giving advice are both great ways to help someone else. Maybe your response gives that person the insight they need to finally make an important decision.
Network connections work in another interesting way, too. You should be thinking about people that you know who would enjoy meeting each other or even working together. Collaboration is a key part of a good network. Try to get to know a lot of people, especially in your local area, who are working on interesting companies and projects.
The reason why you do favors and make introductions is simple. Other people will do the same thing for you. A network should be dynamic, with constant interaction among the people inside it. When a network is working well, talented people will be attracted to it. You get introduced to interesting and experienced professionals. Your business will do better as a result.
Think about the importance of a good network when you need to hire a new employee. There may be two or three great candidates in your local area who are willing to work for a low salary. If you don’t know them, however, you will end up hiring someone less talented who wants more money. Your business will suffer as a result.
Networking Worksheet
By now you should have thought about the goals you would like to accomplish with your network and what learned about some ways that you can help your friends and colleagues. With that done, you can start to think more about planning.
There are a series of steps that will promote you and your business to other people while giving you opportunities to help others. You can repeat them as often as you like. They should become a part of your work habits. Networking is more effective when it is integrated into the things you do every day, not confined to meetings, conferences, and other specific events.
The most basic elements of connecting with other people is to make sure you address each of the following points when you reach out:
● Context: Where did you meet and what did you discuss together?
● Ask: What are you asking this person to do?
● Plan: How can the two of you work together?
Many people that you meet will be busy, especially the successful ones. They will need your help to quickly and easily understand what you want them to do, and what you can do for them. Using this framework will also be helpful for you in other areas of your business. People will appreciate your ability to summarize important and complex concepts and to give them specific ways to fit into the plan.
Do you find ways to follow up with the businesses and entrepreneurs you meet?
How often do you usually talk to your professional contacts?
Which elements of your business could be partnered with other companies?
By now you should have thought about the goals you would like to accomplish with your network and what learned about some ways that you can help your friends and colleagues. With that done, you can start to think more about planning.
There are a series of steps that will promote you and your business to other people while giving you opportunities to help others. You can repeat them as often as you like. They should become a part of your work habits. Networking is more effective when it is integrated into the things you do every day, not confined to meetings, conferences, and other specific events.
The most basic elements of connecting with other people is to make sure you address each of the following points when you reach out:
● Context: Where did you meet and what did you discuss together?
● Ask: What are you asking this person to do?
● Plan: How can the two of you work together?
Many people that you meet will be busy, especially the successful ones. They will need your help to quickly and easily understand what you want them to do, and what you can do for them. Using this framework will also be helpful for you in other areas of your business. People will appreciate your ability to summarize important and complex concepts and to give them specific ways to fit into the plan.
Do you find ways to follow up with the businesses and entrepreneurs you meet?
How often do you usually talk to your professional contacts?
Which elements of your business could be partnered with other companies?
Network Assessment Survey
[For this survey, the answers are not necessarily correct, they rather represent my personal opinions]
Your network offers access to many people. Some of them can help you. You can help some of them. There should be some connection or shared interest that links you to each person in your network. The following questions will help us understand more about your plans for using networks in the future.
What is the most important thing you need from your network right now?
a. Access to investors
b. Access to resources besides money
c. Access to employees
Answer: b. Access to resources besides money
What are you most willing to provide the people in your network?
a. Business Advice
b. Introductions
c. Paid services
d. Free services
Answer: d. Free services
How strong is your network?
a. Very strong
b. Kind of strong
c. Pretty weak
d. Very weak
Answer: d. Very weak
How often do you use your network?
a. All the time
b. A few times a month
c. Almost never
Answer: b. A few times a month
Which option describes how you use your network?
a. I ask people for help most of the time.
b. I offer help to people most of the time.
Answer: b. I offer help to people most of the time.
Have you started adding other TEEP entrepreneurs to your network?
Yes
No
Answer: No
[For this survey, the answers are not necessarily correct, they rather represent my personal opinions]
Your network offers access to many people. Some of them can help you. You can help some of them. There should be some connection or shared interest that links you to each person in your network. The following questions will help us understand more about your plans for using networks in the future.
What is the most important thing you need from your network right now?
a. Access to investors
b. Access to resources besides money
c. Access to employees
Answer: b. Access to resources besides money
What are you most willing to provide the people in your network?
a. Business Advice
b. Introductions
c. Paid services
d. Free services
Answer: d. Free services
How strong is your network?
a. Very strong
b. Kind of strong
c. Pretty weak
d. Very weak
Answer: d. Very weak
How often do you use your network?
a. All the time
b. A few times a month
c. Almost never
Answer: b. A few times a month
Which option describes how you use your network?
a. I ask people for help most of the time.
b. I offer help to people most of the time.
Answer: b. I offer help to people most of the time.
Have you started adding other TEEP entrepreneurs to your network?
Yes
No
Answer: No
