A Few Thoughts About Expectations
In considering a recent post about "slow connections" on Linkedin, I remembered a couple of elementary but important acronymic concepts of mine which may be of use to some of you.
The concepts are meant to be easy to remember. However, I believe that the subject matter is not trivial - for both concepts deal with something that we must face as we're building ournetworks: EXPECTATIONS.
1. SEE - Set Expectations Early – This first concept deals with whatYOU need, what YOU expect in order for the relationship to be ofvalue to you. It's understandable that some of us DREAD this particular area of relationship building.
Sometimes we get so caught up in building the numbers in our networks that we forget that in order for any network to be healthy, the individual relationships in it must be nurtured. This means that the relationship is also about YOU. This means that you, too, should have your expectations for the relationship clarified. If your expectations are NOT important, you actually don't yet have arelationship. You merely have a contact, a name – worth only a few cents to a lead generation company. But the value of the relationship starts to crystallize when it'sclear that it a relationship of equals – the proverbial "win/win" ofthe 1980's. (I think it needs to be revived. – Not the 80's - The "win/win"! :-)
Setting expectations shouldn't be overbearing and shouldn't place aheavy burden on fellow-networkers' precious time. They are meant for clarification and understanding.
2. GEE - Get Expectations Early – There's always the corollary, always the other side when it comes to building good relationships. (I LOVE building good relationships!)
Concentrate on getting expectations from those in your network. Ifyou have a small network, you can do this individually – one by one. Or, if you have a network of several hundred or several thousand, you can use a standard form to do find out what your network expects of you. But above all else: Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!
You're building a partnership of human capital for yourself. Therefore, once you've communicated what will make for success from your side, ask what your fellow networkers expect from networking with you. Their answer will be the key to their continued motivation to network with you, to partner with you,to even champion you and your causes without your even having to askin the future. From these early answers, you'll know how to motivate, inspire, and encourage them in the future. (Remember:Friends fall down – members of your network fall down - even thestrongest, wisest, richest, most networked of networkers fall down. As a networker friend, if you truly care about the people you're networking with, you want to know enough about them and their business expectations to participate in lifting them back up should they fall down in your presence. )
By the way: If you find the above, or any of the things here on MyLinkedin Power Forum of value, please share with those you care about in your network.
Thanks!
Vincent Wright
Moderator, My Linkedin Power Forum
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/MyLinkedinPowerForum/
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