Find solution
Are there any business networking events tonight?

Professional Networking: How can I convince my business partner to be more okay with not showing up to events with an explicit agenda?

  • He feels that without one, he will not accomplish anything worthwhile and therefore will make no effort to attend events that aren't explicit in their intentions or where he can't make up his own. I feel that he is sacrificing a lot of the ability to enjoy himself while there. What do?

  • Answer:

    Your partner is right. We should have an explicit agenda for every event we ever attend. Otherwise we go and then end up feeling resentful for wasting time, especially if we're a hard-driving achiever (like - I suspect - your business partner). And YOU are right, too. "Enjoying yourself" and "just experiencing the event" are legitimate agendas for an event. From your perspective, these are worthwhile pursuits. That might be too nebulous for your partner. You just might not be able to change his perspective on this. Why not nudge him in the direction of an agenda that includes: *visibility - you accomplish a lot just by being seen *reconnecting - finding people you haven't talked to in some time *connecting others - it's good business to focus on other people's business sometimes Do you think these would be more "relaxed" agendas that would encourage him and let you still enjoy going places with him?

Beth Bridges at Quora Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

You can try explaining that while targeted networking is most productive in the short term, for longer-term goals you need a broader network that will address future needs you are maybe not aware of yet. I usually recommend that people invest most of their networking time budget on actions that have a reasonable expectation of yielding a valuable connection not far into the future. But at the same time I also advise people to devote at least part of their time to making connections where there is no obvious value today. There is a reason for this. First of all, networking takes time and you don't know where you will be in five or ten years so having a network focused entirely on the needs of today is short sighted. Secondly, good connections can be immensely useful even if they are nothing to do with your business because sometimes the person you know can connect you to someone else. These connectors play a crucial role in your network.

Andrew Hennigan

I would suggest a more loosely based agenda, targeting the things in which are most important to achieving a goal. I would recommend no more than 5 to 10 items. Also you could bring to his attention that there are way too many variables in which explicit planning can't cover, a more loosely based agenda allows you to pivot towards to the proper direction you should be, faster.

David Yarde

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.