Open To Create . . . Authentic Creative Networking
1 7th J u l y 2 0 1 2
“The richest people in the world look for and build networks, others look for work.” Robert Kiyosaki www.opentocreate.com
© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . The purpose of the day . . . To de-mystify the approaches and techniques that make networking a fruitful and mutually beneficial way of being, doing and creating successful business relationships. This will even be fun!! • To analyse your current networking behaviours and find ways to network that feel right for you. • To give you the chance to re-define and re-frame your own creative & authentic approach to get the best out of each networking opportunity with confidence. • To network with the group and be supported with tips for growing your existing on and offline networks.
www.opentocreate.com
© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . 9.30am
Registration
12.45pm – 1.45pm
Lunch
10am
Morning session Welcome, introductions and house keeping
1.45pm
Why are we here? What is networking? What gets in our way of networking?
Afternoon session Status exercise Networking nightmares Bespoke forum x 3 stories from the group
3.10pm
Break
10.30am
Forum Theatre
3.30pm
A real purpose for networking
11.30am
Break
4pm
Speed networking
11. 50am
Authentic, personal connection. Networking styles – a broad brush stroke. Standing out the Grid - what can we learn from each style?
4.15pm
Re-standing out the Grid Next steps Evaluation
4.30pm
Session end
10.10am
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© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . Your facilitators for the day . . . Today is being co-delivered by Anna B. Sexton, Director, Open To Create... with associate Alison Seddon.
Anna B. Sexton; artist, coach, mentor and entrepreneur who offers a range of training, mentoring & coaching programmes to support artists and arts professionals to grow robust and sustainable creative businesses. Over the last 15 years she has created 2 successful sole trader businesses Open To Arts, Open To Coaching & We Love Marlborough; an arts & culture on and offline networking cooperative. Alison Seddon is an experienced and dynamic coach and facilitator, with strong communication skills and a warm, direct style. She has 12 years experience working across all corporate sectors, with deep experience in financial services, engaging with groups and individuals at all levels, whether first line managers or senior executives. www.alisonseddon.co.uk
www.opentocreate.com
Š Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . What is networking ? Our group came up with the following definitions; • Communication
• To get clients
• Collaboration – like minds, like energy
• Givers gain
• Promotion
• A business event
• Exchange of information
• Getting to know people
• Building relationships
• Intention – to find opportunities
• Meeting people
• What can I offer?
• Assessment/evaluation
• Conscious – ‘soft’ networking
• Create a market place
• Service for service
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© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . What gets in the way of networking ? Our group came up with the following definitions; • Mindset – limiting beliefs / judgements
• Use of status or hierarchies
“I’m not good enough”
• Drinking
“I don’t fit in”
• Not feeling confident
“They are... higher status, better than
• Money – to take time away from the
me...”
business, cost to get there, join
“It’s superficial jibber, jabber”
• Lack of intention
“I can’t see the purpose of it.”
• Lack of clarity
“I don’t know what to say...”
• Perceived or actual power trips
• Time i.e. breakfast meetings – why?
“They are not interested in connecting”
• Unstructured set up – how to navigate?
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© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . What is authentic networking ? Our group came up with the following definitions; • Honesty • Clarity • Self awareness pre, during and afterwards i.e. being in touch with yourself, others and what is happening at the event • “Flag it / park it.” • Have a clear purpose for attending • Prepared • Be yourself • Stay true to your word i.e. follow up if you said you would
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© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . Networking Styles
© Alison Seddon
Hygienist
Salonniere
• Be sure to get a drink and something to eat- it’s free after all! • Find someone to talk to who also thinks this is a waste of time • Mentally award points to the most shameless schmoozer
•
Wallflower • • •
Stand on the edge of conversations and eavesdrop If someone engages you in conversation, ask them some polite questions Be careful not to sound too arrogant
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• •
Get to know something about the people you meet Discover what common ground you have with the other guests Try and put people at ease by playing the host
Butterfly/Butterfly Collector • • •
Talk to everyone, even if just for a few seconds Strive to be interesting Make sure you swap numbers with as many people as possible
© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . .
What do I want to take from each style?
My new networking purpose is . . . Who am I?
What can I bear in mind when networking with different styles?
Hygienist
Salonniere
What are my authentic qualities?
Butterfly
Wallflower 1. 2. 3. 4.
Who am I going to keep in touch with and how?
What have I learnt today?
So what now?
5. And now what?
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Š Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . Key tips for preparing to network Our groups top tips • Know your audience – check before
• What networking styles will be most
hand who is going, what is the context?
appropriate given the people you are
Where is the event?
meeting?
What is the culture/s of the group? The host organisation? • Have tools ready i.e. business cards, a
• What does the person you are networking with want & need? • How can you be of service?
note book and/or smart phone to record
• Don’t drink
events, photograph people
• What you wear?
• Personal check in pre and during the
• Knowing when to leave
event i.e. how are your energy levels?
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© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . Feed back from the day . . . “A well structured, useful day. Clear instructions, much fun was had. I was totally engaged. I left feeling inspired.
“I loved watching the role play & making suggestions. Good addressing of my requested sidling issues.”
”Claire Jackson; artist, paint sales manager
Jenny Jones; visual artist, writer
“Hearing where others also get stuck with marketing, understanding different networking styles. I have broken the back of the ‘superficial’ piece.” Judi Dumont-Barter; Coach “Networking demystified, its about getting out there, stepping through anxieties and doing it with authenticity!” Gerry Sexton; photographer, Actionimagerry
www.opentocreate.com
“Learning to strip my elevator speech down to bare minimum in the most effective language.” Sam Deane; Internet marketing/SEO specialist “Loved the concept, facilitators worked well together & complimented each other. Well worth the journey.” Edel O’ Mahony; Global Pioneer in Energetic Communications
© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . Biographies Anna_B_Sexton has a track record of over 20 years supporting successful entrepreneurial artists & creatives grow their own projects and businesses. She has worked with small to medium independent creative enterprises from Acid Jazz, Beyond The Valley through to larger scale corporate clients Superdrug and Nivea. Within the NGO and social enterprise spaces Anna has worked with Whitechapel Gallery, Bow Arts and More to Life. She has created 2 successful sole trader businesses Open To Arts, Open To Coaching & We Love Marlborough; an arts & culture on and offline networking cooperative in partnership with Secret Agent Marketing Headshot – John Cassidy 2012
@annabsexton
annabsexton@wordpress.com
www.welovemarlborough.co.uk
“She immediately put me at my ease, and I found it easy to explain my skills and goals. I feel much more focused about where to direct my efforts, and this in turn helps me feel confident in what I do.”
www.opentocreate.com
© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . Alison Seddon is an experienced and dynamic coach and facilitator, with strong communication skills and a warm, direct style. She combines business understanding with her training as an actor and drama therapist to bring a fresh, creative approach to the training room. She has 12 years experience working across all corporate sectors, with deep experience in financial services, engaging with groups and individuals at all levels, whether first line managers or senior executives. Clients include: Barclays, EY, KPMG, Deutsche Bank, BP, British Council, Kings College London, AON, Centrica, M&S. Headshot – Alison Seddon 2011
@alisoneseddon
www.alisonseddon.com
“Working with Alison is a real treat, she is insightful, light yet spot on with her delivery to get the most out of the group. She brings in lots of practical ways of learning and her sessions are a lot of fun.”
www.opentocreate.com
© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . Thanks to these resources today was possible . . . Below is a list of many of the resources & networks that made today what it was; • www.artsjobs.co.uk - free ad space via Arts News • www.artshubs.com - free ads space • www.artsadmin.co.uk – free weekly E-digest • www.eventbrite.co.uk - e-ticketing for all events • www.facebook.com – worldwide scope to tell your friends • www.twitter.com – tweet all about it! • www.issuu.com - online publishing • www.connecthq.com – connect with your contacts across social media • www.moretolife.org – getting to the root of limiting beliefs and enhanced self esteem • www.keypersonofinfluence.com – leading the global entrepreneur revolution
• http://www.rada.ac.uk/about-rada/vh-portal/venue-hire - thanks for having us!
www.opentocreate.com
© Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . . Growing robust and sustainable creative businesses To find arrange booking this Creative Business Nuts & Bolts Š workshop or to find out more about the flexible and results driven range of services Open To Create... offers to artists and creative professionals; Contact
Anna B. Sexton, Director
annabsexton@gmail.com
Telephone
020 7515 9451
Mobile
07941 655 856
Skype
annasexton
@opentocreate
Web
www.opentocreate.com
www.opentocreate.com
Š Open To Create... 2012
Open To Create . . .
“The successful networkers I know continually put the other person’s needs ahead of their own.” Bob Burg www.opentocreate.com
© Open To Create... 2012