Networking is an important and absolutely critical activity for marketers and sales people. People who have the ability to network strategically will always enjoy a competitive advantage in business. Are you comfortable in a network role? Do you strive to be the best you can be when it comes to networking? What is the most important thing you can do to ensure that you are successful in networking?
Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes that the first thing you need to become is a master at asking questions. There is so much power in the ability to ask the right questions and Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed a list of ten (10) powerful strategic networking questions for you to use in any business or social setting to help you start a valuable conversation without sounding off. as if you were looking for business.
Question #1: How did you get started in the business (write here the type of business the person is in)? People love to talk about themselves and share their personal stories. This question is a powerful way to give them carte blanche to share your personal information, which could provide you with insightful and strategic information.
Question #2: What do you personally find to be the most enjoyable part of your business? The power of this question is that it will make the person focus on the positive aspects of his job.
Question #3: What is your unique selling proposition or what makes you and your business unique from your competition? The power of this question is that it provides an opportunity to learn how this person views your business compared to the competition.
Question #4: What is the biggest challenge for your company and your industry (or business sector)? The power of this question is that it will give you insight into how the person views and defines challenges.
Question #5: What is the most significant change you have seen in your profession in the last five to ten years? The power of this question is that it will provide insight into how the person defines significant change.
Question #6: What do you think are the most important emerging trends in your business? The power of this question is that it will indicate to what extent the person is visionary or unable to see too far into the future.
Question #7: What is the most memorable thing that has happened to you in your business? The power of this question is that it will help you understand what this person considers “memorable.”
Question #8: What is the most significant success you have achieved in your business? The power of this question is that you will learn your definition of significant success.
Question #9: If you could invite anyone, living or dead, to have dinner with you, who would you choose? The power of this question is its uniqueness and its ability to force the person to stop and really think a bit about their answer. And the person they select will also tell you something about the person answering your question.
Question #10: What headline would you like to see written about your business a year from now and five years from now? The power of this question is that it will give you insight into how he or she sees the short- and long-term future of your business.