Networking is a Two-Way Street

It’s no big news flash that networking is a two-way street. You can’t expect to get, get, get referrals and favors without returning them. Relationships like this won't usually last long.

Instead, always keep your eye out for opportunities to help other members of your networking groups and your contacts to prosper, in any way you can. There are a great many reasons for this, including but not limited to:

· Helping others usually results in some return on your investment

· Go above what is expected or at least meet half way

· If we all work to be the bigger person, everyone wins

· Maintaining your relationships

· Helping can be very satisfying

· These are your people, your business support team, be theirs too

Helping others doesn’t always mean you have to drop everything and go way out of your way. Examples of help to other group members or your contacts in general could be things like:

· Send a referral

· Send them a hire prospect

· Give them an idea on how to solve a problem they’re having

· Just listen

Just try to be there for your people. It’s well worth the small amount of effort required.