Our last post in this series of how to fill up your practice with clients. I do hope this series has been helpful and brought you ideas and action items to get you closer to your goals.

Today I want to cover networking and how to take the fear and icky ideas of selling out of the word. We will cover some tips and actions items for you to jump on today to fill up your practice!

Connection 

When you hear someone talk about needing to get out and networks, what feeling comes to mind? Is it that icky salesly feeling? It was for me. I never wanted to feel like I was selling myself or what I did, so the word networking always felt icky. Until I shifted my mindset towards a more wanted feeling of connection.

Who doesn’t love connecting with people they love or know?! I know I do. All humans love connection. Your first action item is to change your mindset around the word networking to connection. Today I am going to go and connect with other professionals in my community. I want to learn how I can serve them and support them.  HOLY BANANAS- that just feels better!

Be Prepared

We out in the community connecting with others, and now I want you to think about how you plan on connecting with this amazing people.How do you like to connect with people, or how do you connect with people? First, do your research. Learn a bit about the group or person you are going to connect with. Have a few thoughtful questions prepared.

What do you want to learn about them? What can you do to best serve them? All to often people go into networking very selfish and thinking about how other can help them. Change that right now! I want you going into networking with curiosity. How can you help others? Be prepared with those curious questions.

Follow UP 

If you decided not to do anything else from this post- choose this one! (Picture me jumping up and down pointing here!) This tip is the most valuable! After you are out connecting with others in your community make it a personal habit to send a quick email or note. Do not over think this or put in too many road blocks to this practice. Why the follow up is so valuable it two things. First, shows how much you appreciate that connection you just made. Second, it gives you a chance to circle back on the conversation you had with the person and share again how you can serve them. For example, I might send a link to something we chatted about to make the note more personal.

What helps me to follow-up is to make a check off a spreadsheet. You know I love checking things off and spreadsheets so put them together and I am a happy camper. When I get back to the office after out and about, I have my list of people I met, send an email, copy that email and put into my master spreadsheet of contacts, and then put in the follow-up date. This all takes less than 30 minutes and keep me organized.

Action Items:

• Mindset switch from sales to connection
• Lead with questions after quick introductions
• Enter into the environment as you are going to take care of people not as you are better than others
• Follow-up
  • We should stay in touch- best
  • Can I get  your information- bad

That is the end of this series! I hope you take each part of this blog series and move forward on one or all tips to fill up your practice. Lastly, if you are needing more help and support join me on the Fearless Practitioners Facebook Page!