The Three Most Important Things Everyone Should Know About Networking
by Bill True
              
 

In addition to my cinematic adventures, over the past year I have been speaking around the country with my SagePresence compadres on the topic of networking. I mean…we’re in the movie business! Can you think of a better expert on the topic?

Anyway, as part of the talk, I often find myself relating this observation: there are no ads (at least no legitimate ones I’ve found) in the newspaper for “Professional Screenwriter Wanted.” That said, you know how people talk about writing being 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration? In my experience, being a professional screenwriter is more like 1% actual writing and 99% networking.

Trouble is, the vast majority of people we run into report that they either dislike or avoid networking because they think they need to sell themselves, their feelings get in their way, or they simply don’t know how to talk about themselves.

Here are three simple solutions we offer people across the professional spectrum to address these concerns with amazing results:

1. Networking is providing value for others – Is it realistic to expect some meaningful assistance from someone you just met? Turn around your thinking to view networking as building relationships results in a transformed experience.

Look to conversations as an opportunity to bring value to the person with whom you’re talking. You compete the “network” by matching that person’s need to someone in your personal network that can help them.

Take a breath and relax. Realize that networking isn’t about the quick pay-off. It’s about paying it forward to establish relationships and build credibility that you can call upon in the long run.

2. Self-attention sabotages the ability to make connections – Our work with literally thousands of people has shown that this is the most significant defeater of presence and the ability to form meaningful interpersonal connections.

The magic bullet to taking attention off yourself is to actively appreciate something about the person standing in front of you. It can be the person’s great humanity, or it can be their cool glasses. It all reads the same (and reads quite favorably!) to the recipient.

It’s impossible to appreciate someone and focus on yourself at the same time. Practice appreciating things around you in all types of situations—especially tough ones—and see what happens.

3. Conversations are about helping others find their “happy endings” – The trick to navigating through a successful and enjoyable conversation is to take a lesson from point number one above: it’s not about you.

Ask leading questions to help fellow networkers picture what success “looks” like. What’s the situation and feeling that goes along with it? Help them articulate their current situation and feeling in the same manner, then help them to name a few actions that could bring about the change they’re looking for.

Think about the things people in your network do. Does anything match the actions identified in your conversation? Facilitate an introduction between your connection and the person with whom you’re talking, and you’ve just become part of their solution.

People who’ve taken these concepts to heart have found that their networking experience is not only far more productive, but that they enjoy it so much that they can’t wait for the next opportunity to meet new people!



About the Author
Bill True’s debut feature, RUNAWAY, premiered to universal accolades at Tribeca and Toronto, and took the top prize at the prestigious Austin Film Festival. His supernatural drama, INCARNATION, is slated to begin production later this year, and he is finishing up his long-awaited spec script, LIGHTSEEKERS. In addition, Bill is screenwriter-in-residence and partner at SagePresence, a consortium of working filmmakers who also leverage Hollywood techniques to unlock the secrets of “stage presence” for professionals. For more information about SagePresence training and events, visit www.sagepresence.com. Bill has also joined the ranks of the StoryLink All-Stars, with his presentation and pitch consultations being among participants’ favorites at last year’s Great American Pitchfest.