Networking: Information vs. Inspiration

"Really, I didn't know that you were from Chicago? I have a sister that lives in Chicago!!"

This is the type of "information" that generally gets passed around during networking events. What might happen if we gave up trading business cards and talking about things we really don't care about.

What if, (gasp!) we exchanged information for something a little bit deeper?

When people get together in a business setting, usually what occurs is an exchange of information. Information seems to be the currency in which we trade throughout our business day. It is one of the reasons we have networks in the first place: to leverage other people's information and resources. This is useful to a point.

However, what distinguishes good, solid, effective people in sales and marketing from those who are brilliant in this field isn't usually the nature or quality of the information exchange. It occurs somewhere else.

Something inspires each of us. Many of us are inspired by many different things. What is it that truly inspires you? There are a number of dimensions to inspiration. When asked about this, our workshop participants were varied in their answers:

• Overcoming a challenge
• Succeeding in an area of passion
• Seeing another person accomplish something
• Developing strong personal connections with others

When asked how they feel when someone takes an interest in what inspires you, the responses were overwhelmingly positive:

• Increased sense of bonding with the person
• I feel great
• I want to give back to them, as they are contributing back to me
• I feel further inspired by their interest
• I feel like I have a partner
• More "real" communication
• There is a great connection formed - I start to get interested in what inspires them as well

If these feelings occur when others take an interest in what inspires us, what might happen for others if we take a genuine interest in what inspires them? Listening for what inspires another person contributes to that person dramatically. You increase your connections with others, and people get genuinely interested in you.

Another bonus: if you help someone in the area of their inspiration it has more impact and value because inspiration always occurs for those things that are most important to us.

Note: You do not have to be inpspired by what inspires someone else. Taking an interest in it because it inspires them is what matters here. Today, start to listen past the information that others impart. Listen for what really inspires them. That is where powerful connections are built.