Business networking is the process of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with other business people and potential clients and/or customers. The key to true business networking is the establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship, and that’s an incredibly rare event at the standard shake-hands-and-exchange-your-business-card events that are touted as business networking “opportunities”. The best business networking groups operate as exchanges of business information, ideas, and support.

The most important skill for effective business networking is listening; focusing on how you can help the person you are listening to rather than on how he or she can help you is the first step to establishing a mutually beneficial relationship.

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