We often think in the business world that summer is not a productive time for making new contacts or embarking on new projects.
People are on holiday, the children are off school, festivals and other special events replace business meetings and conferences, and warm sunny days and the lure of the sea are really too much of a distraction! In actual fact, these summer diversions can provide great opportunities for networking and meeting new people.
Networking is not about business. Networking is about communication and building relationships which, in turn, form a great basis for doing business. The more relaxed and informal activities of summer make it easier to get to know people: barbecues and picnics take the place of formal dining; and every village, town and city has its festivals, fairs and fun days. Perfect occasions for getting to know what’s happening in your community and who’s making it happen!
In Dorset, we have a wealth of great summer events to choose from. In the next few weeks alone, you can enjoy such varied activities as the Beach Volleyball Festival at Sandbanks, Classic Cars on the Prom in Bournemouth, outdoor theatre at Highcliffe Castle and on Brownsea Island, the Jazz Festival in Swanage and the Seafood Festival at Weymouth. Events like these are great ice-breakers. You can invite colleagues and associates to go with you; or go alone, and talk to the people behind the event and taking part in it. Do some networking!
Summer is also the time when many charities put on events to raise awareness and much-needed funds. Golf Days, cycle rides, sponsored walks and fun runs, raft races, family fun days – whatever the event – these are all brilliant opportunities for supporting your community and getting to know the movers and shakers within them. Charities and businesses can work together to the great advantage of both. Walking 5k dressed as the blonde one from Abba in an organisation’s summer fund-raiser could be the first step towards a very successful, enjoyable and beneficial business relationship.
So, enjoy the season and warm to the opportunities it brings – like TBN’s own summer barbecue at the stunning Italian Villa on 2nd July. Hope you can join us.
It’s Summertime and the Networking is easy!