A Toaster’s No Slot Machine

Ron Sukenick Networking

You’ve heard me talk about my toaster. I use toasters as a metaphor for business systems that savvy networkers put into place. I explain how, once I’ve set my toaster dial to “Dark” or “Medium,” inserted my bagel or my slice of bread and pushed down the lever, I can let the toaster do its job. Meanwhile, I can go get my juice out of the refrigerator or put the finishing touches on my blog. …

More Interactions To Start Relationships

Ron Sukenick Networking

Networking is a process that uses the Magic of Six. Before we can go beyond networking, we need to learn how to turn each part of the process into an interaction, by adding the crucial extra touches that have the power to propel networkers “into the beyond.” In my earlier blog post I talked about meeting someone for the first time, and turning that meeting into an interaction through focused, other-directed listening, using the three …

Interactions That Start Relationships

Ron Sukenick Networking

Before we can go beyond networking, we need to set in place a process for getting to connection. We can turn each part of that process into an interaction by adding those crucial extra touches that help take matters “into the beyond.” The process begins when we meet someone for the first time. Say you attended a networking event. In order to go beyond traditional networking, so that you can develop connections rather than just …

Opening Up The Five-Word Question

Ron Sukenick Networking

One way to go beyond networking is to take business encounters from mere question-answer fact-finding to the kind of open flow of ideas and information that leads to connection. Even though I’ve been emphasizing listening with purpose in my recent blog posts, I need to emphasize that building business relationships is about how you answer questions as much as it is about how you ask them. There’s one question that you will certainly be asked …