Last night I attended a different sort of networking event – the Beehive Game. The Beehive is the brainchild of Michael Fletcher of Neworld Coaching (I’ll be interviewing Michael on May 8th as part of my Build Your Business Teleseminar Series).
How the Game Works
The game is simple. We were broken into “hives” of six people. Each of us was given the
chance to be the “queen bee” and ask four questions. The questions all start with “do you know someone who…” The person you’re looking for should help you achieve a personal or business goal.
When it was your turn to be the queen, you handed your question to a “worker bee” from your hive. This person ran around to the other hives asking your question. When you heard someone else’s question, if you knew someone who fits the bill – or even thought you did – you handed over your business card to the worker bee.
At the end of the night, we each had four stacks of business cards from people who could answer our questions. Now we’ve got to follow up with each of these leads over the next few days.
Stop Thinking About Yourself
What was unique about this event is not just the format, but how it changed people’s thinking about networking. Too often people go to a networking event thinking entirely about how they can best sell their own products or services. They spend no time thinking about what they can do to help others.
And that’s why networking doesn’t work for so many people. They are focused entirely on themselves. Networking is supposed to be a two way street. You get out what you put in. If you help a lot of people, they’ll want to help you.
And that’s what the Beehive Game does – it forces us to start thinking about how we can help others. Other than drafting your four questions and handing them off to your worker bees, you’re spending no time thinking about yourself. That’s the real power of this type of networking event.
Follow Up!
The other powerful feature is the follow up. Too often we meet people at a networking event but worry about following up. We don’t want to appear pushy. We don’t want to be annoying. But this event is designed around follow up. Each person who gave you their card is expecting to hear from you. And they are expecting to find a way to help you. How great is that?
The sad thing is that Michael tells me only about 50 percent of people who attend Beehive Game events actually follow up. It’s amazing to me that people would pay money, take three hours out of an evening and then not follow up. This is an easy way to get new leads and make new contacts.
Put the Beehive Mentality To Use
Even if you don’t attend a Beehive Game, you can use some of these techniques in your everyday business life. Think about who you’re looking to meet. Is it a person at a particular company, a person with a particular problem? Ask your network if anyone know someone like that. Getting very specific about what or who we’re looking for makes it easier for others to help us.
When you’re speaking with other entrepreneurs ask them what they’re looking for. And then be sure to think about your own network and who you might know who could help. And finally, don’t forget to follow up.
Andrea J. Stenberg
If you live in Southern Ontario and are interested in attending a Beehive Game event, go to Neworld Coaching to find a location near you. If you’re not in Southern Ontario, you can also try out the Beehive Game online. I’ve been on it for about a month and it’s been interesting. Either way, if you do decide to go, please mention I sent you.
