Networking 101 with Mervin Yeo

Last night, I was at the Association for Professional Trainers, Singapore (APTS) meeting and the speaker was Mervin Yeo. I didn't tell him that I would be present last night and so he was a little surprised to see me.

He talked about his pet subject - networking. Having attended events that he has organised and hosted, I must say that he is certainly an expert on the topic.

He cleared a few misconceptions about networking - about how people think it's only about talking to other people, that it's difficult and stressful, and that it's all about name cards and quick introductions.

Mervin reminded us that the mindset we hold when networking will determine the outcome of the relationships we form. If we are only there to 'push name cards' or collect them, we will form superficial 'contact' relationships. If, however, we take the time to find out how we can collaborate and help the other person, we form 'connection' relationships. 

We do this by introducing people to each other as well as to products and services that have benefited us. We also have the opportunity to share ideas, feedback and information, knowledge and expertise, as well as advice and encouragement.

With a right mindset about networking - how it's about helping others, and not just about yourself - it's going to be much easier to go up to another person and make a new connection.

Of course, networking benefits us as well. Mervin illustrates this by showing us that networking gives us:

1) Sources of inspiration

2) Job / Gig recommendations

3) Referrals

4) Connections to people we want to meet

5) Opportunities to learn and profit

6) Information about the industry, market and other things we may have never considered

7) A an avenue to stay on track of our goals

With such benefits, I ended up feeling that I've lost many chances to network (with the right mindset) in the past. I'm going to have to self-accelerate in this area and get out there to do it.

To top it all off, one of the founders, David Lee, encouraged all of us to write on two post-it notes. One note will contain an offer of value to someone else (for free, of course), that is, how we can help another person. The other note will contain a request for help in area that we need.

Well, I offered my help to guide and assist new fellow trainers in their presentation skills and their training processes, both of which I have been sharpening over the past 10 years.

I requested help getting into corporate training sessions, especially in the area of presentation and communication skills, as well as my pet topic - introversion, this time, in the workplace.

It was a great learning session, during which I also got to talk to some new people and practise my networking skills. And, as I'm now a full-fledged member of the association, I'm proud to be part of it.

July Week Of Many Events

In the coming week, I will be meeting with a business developer friend for one of the training companies I work with.

I will be discussing the possibility of introducing new programmes involving some other trainers I met and myself. Thus far, I have not seen any programmes in the Singapore education industry that are similar in scope. Well, pioneering a niche is always a good experience. Whether it succeeds or not, we will learn something from it.

I am also working on helping a couple get their wedding bands made. Their wedding date is coming up and it's all quite a rush, but I have a very reliable designer and smith who is able to do it. Now, it's all up to the couple, whether they are willing to go ahead with the project. Their alternative is to simply buy ready-made bands from one of the many jewellery shops / chains in Singapore.

My other suggestion was for them to visit the upcoming Gem & Jewellery Fair at Marina Bay Convention Centre and look for a suitable pair of rings there. It's a little hard to believe that the event is almost here, meaning that a year has passed so quickly.

There'll also be a network / training session on Wednesday evening this week. It'll be good to catch up with some familiar faces. I must say that I'm glad to have expanded my network of like-minded people in the past couple of years. Before, I wondered if I was the only person doing what I do. Now, I know that there are actually many others who are similar to me in my work life and style.

I'll also be attending a housewarming party by a couple who recently got married. I haven't seen them in a while, so that'll be a good chance to see how they are. 

All in all, it's going to be event after event this week. Let's get productive!

Welcoming June with a Networking Meeting

June is finally here. I've also just finished my last school project for the first half of the year, and here comes my breather. Whew!

To reward myself, I got myself a new keyboard. My old one was annoying me to no end due to lousy key placements and bad tactile feedback, as well as stuck keys. This one, the C3500 from HP, is so much better! I thoroughly recommend it. It does come with a mouse that I don't need at the moment, but it's always good to have a spare.

So this June is all about reconnecting with people, plans, and projects to come. My 3 p's. To kick that off, I attended a networking meeting yesterday. I was a little apprehensive because I had lessons in the morning, and was concerned that I would be too tired to interact. 

To make up for that, I went home to rest before the networking meeting and was glad that I did. It was (surprise!) a gathering of introverts. Of course, I know it sounds ridiculous, but that's because society has always placed erroneous labels on introverts like 'shy' and 'unsociable'.

Well, I got to meet a couple of familiar faces and a number of new ones. It wasn't a business networking session but a more casual, social one. Thus, there was much less pressure to talk about what we do and more freedom to talk about who we are instead.

I hope to meet some of them again some time soon. It's always great to meet people with whom we share an affinity.

Networking for Introverts

On Thursday, I attended a rather curious event. It was a networking event for introverts - a special one, because it was the third anniversary of the network. Needless to say, there was endless joking about how introverts and parties seem an unlikely combination.

For me, it certainly caught my attention and made me even more enthusiastic about attending. I'm glad I did.

I met the host, Mervin Yeo, and he told me that he has been in business networking for 16 years. As an introvert. Wow. You really have to enjoy it to be in it for so long.

Apart from Mervin, I met a few others. One of them, it turns out, is about to launch a co-authored book titled Because I'm Introvert I Triumph. It's a collection of stories from introverts who have used their traits to aid in their success.

When I told him that I am also an author, he very kindly said that he wished that he had met me earlier and that he would like me to contribute to the future editions of the book. Well, there will be a book launch of Because I'm Introvert I Triumph on the 25th of May. Pretty exciting stuff. You can be sure that I will be there.

So networking is a new game that I just got into, having never seen the appeal or need to do so before. I think I'll study it a little more before I get in deep. Isn't that just the most stereotypically introverted approach?