Networking 101 - Giving Feedback

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 122

Giving Feedback

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – July 2009

Dr. Renate Volpe, in her nugget cards entitled “Networking Tips” says:

“Provide constructive feedback to people in your network, that they can use to enhance their businesses.”

As some of you know, I recently had my website revamped (go check it out on http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za – sign up, it’s free).  One of the things that I was now able to add onto my site is a ‘Testimonials’ page.  I then sent out an e-mail to my entire database asking everyone to send me a testimonial.

The response was both unexpected and even a little overwhelming.  In fact, there were several occasions where I was a little damp around the eye area, although I am not admitting to anything you understand.

You see, over the last 12  years or so I have handed out probably more than several thousand referrals and I have connected people, not only locally, but also across borders, across continents and even across time zones.

Sure there have been instances where I have a ‘thank you’ mail or call and even more rarely, I have actually received a ‘feedback’ of sorts, where I have been told that they have actually met up with the person and they are now doing business together.  Sadly though, these are very few and far between.

So I am sure you can only imagine my shock when I received hundreds of mails and testimonials and the content of many of them evidenced the difference I had made in the lives of these people.  It was a truly humbling experience and one that I will never forget.

It would be really great though, to have this experience (although on a much lesser scale) on a more regular basis and without me actually having to ask for it.

I must say though, that although my database works really hard for me and I have no problem with referring people – those who have thanked me and those who have given me feedback, somehow stick more clearly in my mind.  I do know that I get a real sense of pleasure when I am able to refer them.

So remember the person who gave you the connection and/or the referral in the first place.  They have given you something of theirs that they have worked very hard for and that they treasure – have the good manners to, at the very least, thank them.  They deserve it don’t you think?

For more information on Renate, please visit her website at http://www.drrenatevolpe.co.za

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za  or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za