Elevate Your Networking Game: Build Trusted-Relationships with Ease

Elevate Your Networking Game Series (3 of 3)

Welcome to the third installment in our series: Build Trusted-Relationships with Ease, on the Top 3 Best Practices in networking and word-of-mouth marketing by Clay Hicks, CEO and Founder of H7 Network. In the third installment of our “Why Am I Not Getting Referrals?” series we dove into the third challenge—building relationships unproductively—which stands as a cornerstone for success in networking and business building. This final part of the series emphasizes the importance of cultivating meaningful, Trusted-Relationships as well as Trusted-Champion Relationships, and how strategic approaches can transform your networking efforts into fruitful outcomes in H7 and other networking groups.

The Relational Challenge

Building relationships is an art and a challenge for many. Too many. It’s a skill not taught in schools, yet it’s crucial for professional success. We are inherently a communal species, but forging Trusted-Relationships doesn’t come naturally to everyone. The environment often presents hurdles in reaching out and connecting with others. As entrepreneurs, relationships form the backbone of successful ventures, enabling us to scale heights that are unachieved in isolation.

Reflection Questions:

• Think about a successful relationship you’ve built recently. What elements made it successful? Take your CSA Training
• In your current environment, what barriers exist that hinder relationship-building? How can you overcome them?

A Personal Journey to Network Success

Reflecting on my personal journey, as shared in the book “Cracking the Code: The Best Business Lesson I Ever Learned,” my early 20s were notably solitary. As a single father and a steelworker striving to establish my business, I craved meaningful new Trusted-Relationships. Working full-time and managing family commitments left me little room to network, but by 2007, I knew a change was overdue. The solitary road of entrepreneurship was not sustainable, prompting me to build quality, trusting relationships that could empower my business. This transformative journey led to the founding of the H7 Network in 2008.

Reflection Questions:

• Relate to a time when a change in your approach to networking significantly impacted your life or business. What prompted this change?
• How can you leverage your personal narrative to connect with others authentically?

Embracing the Connect, Serve, and Ask™ Methodology

The secret to effective relationship-building is understanding the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind it. This realization birthed the Connect, Serve, and Ask™ framework in 2018, designed to foster trust and deepen professional relationships. This methodology emphasizes focusing on relationships over outcomes to make results more predictable and sustainable.

Reflection Questions:

• How do your networking interactions currently align with the principles of Connect, Serve, and Ask™?
• In what ways can you shift your focus from outcomes to relationship-building in your networking practices?

Practical Steps to Building Trusted Relationships

Applying Connect, Serve, and Ask™ involves meeting others one-on-one and prioritizing trust from the start. Trust isn’t built overnight, and without earning it in initial meetings, the trust-building process can significantly delay. Embracing these principles equips you with tools to cultivate deep, meaningful partnerships. With trust-rich relationships, you gain advantages, creating a to-do list for supporting others, scheduling follow-up meetings, and engaging in transparent business exchanges.

Moving beyond initial meetings, these steps lead to forming ‘Champion Relationships’—a concept born from the methodology. A Champion is a trusted partner with whom predictable results become achievable through regular interaction.

Reflection Questions:

• Reflect on your previous one-to-one meetings. How have you focused on building trust in these interactions?
• Describe someone you consider a Champion in your network. How did this relationship evolve to this level?

“Elevate Your Networking Game” series:

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Networking

Networking might appear complex and daunting, but understanding its intricacies is vital. As you reflect on the challenges discussed in the series—preparedness, communication, and relationship-building—it’s essential to evaluate how these play out in your networking endeavors. The Connect, Serve, and Ask™ methodology offers a structured approach to overcoming obstacles and thriving in building lasting networks.

For members of the H7 Network, joining the Member Success Mastermind provides a platform to delve deeper, share, and support each other in navigating these challenges. By aligning with a community committed to growth, you open doors to mastering the art of networking and achieving your referral goals.

Join us on this journey, and let’s redefine what it means to build relationships in the world of business!

Written by: Clay Hicks

“When you focus on the relationship and not the outcome, your outcomes become more predictable”