| |
| |
|
|
Networking Information |
|
|
|
The 4 Actions of Awesome Hospitality
These Actions of Awesome Hospitality? will help you manifest the power of approachability through your organizational front porches. AWESOME ACTION #1: Go Beyond the Door In a reserved tone the guest said, "You know Pastor, I've been coming to this church for the past 9 weeks. I know I'm shy and all, but not one time has anyone said hello to me." "Really?" Bob asked, "You know, our staff works very hard to be hospitable and friendly to everyone - especially new members. I'm surprised nobody has approached you!" "Well," he continued, "I am usually greeted at the door when I walk in, but that's it. Once I get through the lobby and into the service, I feel invisible. Anyway, this morning I told myself: today is the 10th and final time. It's my last chance. And if nobody says anything, I'm outta here. But, thanks to your hospitality beyond the door, I think I'll stick around." Have you ever felt this way - like someone made the initial effort to extend hospitality but their willingness trickled away after a few minutes? It's kind of like ordering your food at a restaurant, getting the food delivered by your server, and never seeing her again until the check comes. (As if delivering the food was all that mattered.) My good friend Shep Hyken, CSP who is a motivational speaker and author of The Loyal Customer and Moments of Magic, says that "someone's assessment of excellent service is measured in proportion to the amount of time you spend after what's basic, needed or expected." So not unlike "Going Beyond Hello" in the Attitude of Awesome Hospitality?, the first step in the Actions of Awesome Hospitality? is also Going Beyond - beyond the door, that is. AWESOME ACTION #2: Talk to Strangers This fear has a way of manifesting itself into our actions. Take public speaking, for example. It's the number one most common social phobia of humans. Why? Because they're afraid of being negatively judged by others - and their performance is a reflection of that fear. But do you know what the second most common social phobia among humans is? According to the Social Anxiety Association, it's talking to strangers. Lyn Lofland, in her book A World of Strangers, explained it perfectly: "Active avoidance of contact is constantly boosted by the fear of contamination from those are not like us." Wow. Contamination. That's a powerful word. Combine that with our inherent fear of rejection - albeit by a person we don't even know - and it's no wonder people don't feel welcome at so many organizations! But as the definition says, a stranger is someone with whom you have not yet been acquainted. So people make it out to be a lot scarier that it really is. And in the process of becoming an effective and engaging communicator one conversation at a time, you must have the courage to transform a stranger into a neighbor and neighbor into a friend. That's what hospitality is all about. AWESOME ACTION #3: Dismiss Judgment "Every year when I used to teach high school English, the administration would send us our student lists about a week before classes began. Some teachers - the moment they got their lists - marched right back upstairs and spent the next hour making roll changes. They selected specific students they didn't want (or that didn't seem to belong) in their classes and switched them out. I, on the other hand, took that time to get a cup of coffee! In fact, I didn't even look at my class list until the day classes began - because I was going to teach everybody the same. Anytime someone new walks into the door, the room or the organization, dismiss your judgment about them. Even if they look like they won't fit in - they still deserve your hospitality. And it all starts with that first step onto someone's front porch. AWESOME ACTION #4: Sacrifice Your Comfort Let's take your Professional Association, for example. Imagine your monthly meeting takes place on a cold, winter morning at your local banquet hall. All the board members, staff and veterans show up a few minutes ahead of time at about 7:45 A.M. (They gotta get the closest seats and the hottest food!) At 8:06, when the program begins and most people have already sat down to eat, in walks Aly, a newly registered member. She's already in a bad mood because she had to park seven blocks away. Huffing into a room full of strangers, hair out of place from the hike, she scopes out a place to sit. She feels terrible for showing up late and tries to be an inconspicuous as possible. To her dismay, there's only one seat left: the one all the way in the front of the room. Aly reluctantly makes her way up to the front, turning as beet red as everyone watches her every move. Finally, after whispering an apology to the speaker she was so excited to hear, she sits down and takes out her notebook. Has that ever happened to you before? It's happened to me on a number of occasions. And not just because I have a non-existent sense of direction and couldn't arrive on time if my life depended on it, but also because members are often unwilling to sacrifice their comfort for someone new. So if you've been a member of an organization for six months, a year or five years - you've already become accustomed to the group. You're all settled in. And you've had enough time to get comfortable. Now you must reinstate the Golden Rule for the sake of The New Guy? and temporarily sacrifice your comfort. Extend awesome hospitality to that one person who so desperately needs to feel welcome; because if you don't - they may never come back again. And don't assume other people - Greeters or otherwise - will do this. If everyone assumes someone else will take action, nobody will take action. That's called diffusion of involvement. Here some final Awesome Actions? you can use to ensure the comfort of new members: © 2005 All Rights Reserved. Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Networking - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Building Bridges - The Importance of Being Connected Where You Live As a Young Professional (YP) in the up-and-coming city of Milwaukee, WI, I can tell you that it's very important to find a way to get connected in your city. It's important because in order to make a difference, you need to know who those difference makers are. How to Find Participants for a Trial Run Why is a network meeting the best place to get participants for a trial run?We talked about taking a booth at a networking event, or at least sharing a booth. The booth has to be more than informational in order to help you move your product or service. Planting the Seeds of Greatness - Make it Great Newsletter #7 Thought of the WeekThis week, I'd like to challenge you to try something: Give something to someone that you know can never repay the favor. This could be something simple like opening the door for someone with their hands full, or buying lunch for a complete stranger at your local bistro. Networking Put join a networking group on your to do list with a big underline, star and happy face. You'll be glad you did for more reasons than you can count. Mobile Car Wash Companies; Trading Tips If you run a mobile car washing firm we recommend trading for as many products and services as possible. You should trade for both personal and business items. Networking Know How Networking, even to a seasoned professional, can seem intimidating or scary at times. The reason for this is due to the fact, that networking can be positive or negative! We don't often think of "negative" networking. How NOT to Waste Your Time Networking Ever wonder if networking, referral groups, and conferences are a waste of your time? Think about it?how many hours do you invest in deciding where to network, registering, getting there, "working the room," and then following up? How much real business do you generate from your networking efforts? How do you know where to invest and where to cut your losses?If you're not thinking critically about how (or if!) to network, I guarantee that you're wasting a lot of time and money. Bonnie Lowe recently interviewed me for her upcoming e-book: Networkaholics Revealed! True Confessions of People Who Networked Their Way To Success (And How You Can Do the Same). Networking and Trade Shows The most important reasons people exhibit at a trade show? To see what's new and to gather leads - information for future business.So, how do you that besides standing in the booth and walking the aisles? The word is "Networking". Building Business Relationships in a Roomful of Strangers You approach a stranger at an association meeting or industry conference with you arm outstretched and say: "Hi. My name is?. Power Networking: Getting Your Name Out There! Today's economy presents some very special challenges to people who are unemployed, underemployed, or who are simply trying to give their own business venture a shot in the arm. At times, the job search can seem daunting, if not impossible, as it takes quite a bit of encouragement - and creativity - to keep pressing forward. Hey, Whos the New Guy? How to Make Guests and First Timers Feel Welcome The New Guy is a person we all know. And regardless of age, gender, race or personality - spotting The New Guy and stepping onto their front porch is your duty as an existing member of any organization. Flying High, Flying Far "What me? Sell myself? You have to be joking!"This was the response I received from one of my clients when I suggested that she needed to get out there and promote herself. She had to "network". 5 Ways to Wow People Who Wear Nametags People wear nametags more often than you think. The majority of retail establishments, stores and other social gatherings require nametags for several purposes. It Pays to be Friendly Most small business people do not take advantage of human relationship issues. They do not understand that being nice and friendly, out going and enthusiastic pays high dividends. Why Cant I Start A Conversation With You? One out of every ten Americans has a fear of talking to strangers. When you enter a room full of new faces, to start these conversations seems like an impossible task. You Can't Spell Networking Without Serendipity "Fear not to entertain strangers for by so doing some have entertained angels unaware."This quotation is from the book of Hebrews, which means it probably has nothing to do with networking. Why Cant I Remember Your Name? You're terrible with names. You forget someone's name within ten seconds of their introduction, and it embarrasses you. Good Manners Mean Good Business Good manners, good networking and good business all have the same thing in common. What they have in common is "you!" You are the secret weapon that everyone is looking for to help promote themselves effortlessly, enhance their communication skills, and more effectively network. Networking: Breaking into the Buzz Breaking into conversational groups is one of the things people ask me about when I'm conducting networking sessions. There's a buzz that hovers over a crowded room that comes from all those people conversing. Five Steps for Expanding Your Customer Base with Guerilla Networking As a single company, it is impossible to provide your customers with all the services they desire for every aspect of their life; but with guerilla marketing, you can come close. By partnering with companies that provide different, yet complimentary, services to your business, you can create a network of reliable resources for your customers.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
