Episode 19 - Following Up Doesn't Have To Feel Awkward
Hi I'm Keith and welcome to Networking Nuggets. Today I want to talk about something that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Following up. Now the interesting thing is this most people don't struggle with starting conversations. Well not as much as they think they do.
Keith:What they really struggle with is what happens afterwards. You meet someone at a networking event, you have a lovely conversation, you exchange business cards, you connect on LinkedIn and then nothing. A week passes then a month then six months later you bump into each other again and say we really should catch up. Sound familiar? I think we've all done it.
Keith:The problem is that we often treat Networking as though the first conversation is the important one. It isn't. The first conversation simply opens the door. The relationship develops afterwards. That's where the real value begins.
Keith:I think part of the problem is the phrase 'follow-up'. It sounds so corporate almost like you've got a spreadsheet somewhere with reminders popping up saying contact Dave opportunity score seven. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about people. Let's imagine you've just met someone interesting.
Keith:You talked about work. You discovered a shared interest. Maybe you laughed about something. Perhaps they mentioned they were launching a new service or their daughter was about to sit her exams or they were training for a marathon. Those little details matter.
Keith:Following up could simply be sending a message a week after saying it was lovely meeting you. I hope that presentation went well. That's it. No sales pitch. No hidden agenda.
Keith:Just remembering. One of the nicest messages I've ever received simply said I remembered you mentioned this astral and thought you'd enjoy it. Nothing was being sold. Nothing was expected. It simply said I remembered our conversation.
Keith:That's incredibly powerful because everybody wants to feel remembered. Following up doesn't always mean arranging a meeting. It might mean commenting on a LinkedIn post, sending congratulations, sharing an opportunity, making an introduction or just asking how are things going. Those are touch points to quietly strengthen relationships. Here's something worth remembering.
Keith:People rarely complain that someone was too thoughtful. They might complain if someone bombards them with sales messages but nobody minds genuine kindness. There's also another misconception.
Intro:People often think I don't want to bother them.
Keith:Can I gently challenge that? If someone enjoyed talking to you why would hearing from you be a bother? Now of course there are limits. If you've sent five messages and they've never replied take the hint. But one friendly message after meeting somebody that's perfectly normal.
Keith:Think about your own friendships. Imagine if every friendship depended entirely on chance meetings. You'd lose touch with almost everyone. Relationships need little moments of maintenance. Business relationships are no different.
Keith:One thing I encourage people to do is make notes. Not pages and pages of notes just a sentence or two. Something the other person mentioned. Something they're working on. Something that's important to them.
Keith:Because the next time you speak you can ask about it and people notice that because they realize that you were really listening and really listening is one of the greatest compliments we can give someone. I've often said that networking isn't about collecting contacts. It's about collecting conversations. I'd probably add something else. It's about continuing conversations.
Keith:The first meeting creates familiarity. The second builds recognition. The third builds trust. And after that who knows where it might lead. I've had referrals years after first meeting someone Not because I dazzled them in the first sixty seconds but because we stayed in touch.
Keith:Consistency beats intensity every time. So here's a simple challenge this week. Think of one person you've met recently. Send them a message. Not because you want something simply because you'd like the conversation to continue.
Keith:You might be surprised where it leads. This week's Networking Nugget is this The best follow-up doesn't feel like follow-up at all. It feels like genuine interest. Thanks for listening and until next time keep building relationships one conversation at a time. If you found this week's episode useful make sure you follow or subscribe and if you want more check out Networking Nuggets on LinkedIn it's my weekly newsletter where I share deeper insights every Wednesday but also do check out my new book From Awkward to Connected available now on Amazon.
Keith:Until next time keep connecting. Networking Nuggets is a Think of Something Publishing production.
