Alexandra Rice Executive Director Specialist Commercial Banking The Networking World We Live In

Networking: you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means Definition: “To network is to share points of interest between 2 or more people” (A Rice, 2012) Why does that matter? It doesn’t …It doesn’t … … as long as you don’t need to interact with anyone else in order to be successful… as long as you don’t need to interact with anyone else in order to be successful Why I am here? “I’m not into networking. I can’t do it. I’m lousy at small talk and I don’t know anything about football” (A Rice, 2000)

Charting the course of a reluctant networker So what changed in those 12 years? [Now pay attention, there will be a test later on] What influences have shaped my opinions on networking? University: History degree, discovered rowing 1st Company: Management consultant following an ad in The Times 2nd Company: Hired by the client, sponsored to do an MBA 3rd Company: Hired off MBA course, head hunted into Barclays Corporate 4th Company: Friend recommended me to a head hunter for a job at Coutts This conference: Was asked by a client if I’d speak at this event - so here I am LUCKY BREAK

Reflecting on all those Lucky Breaks Lucky breaks? Or an awful lot of networking? The latter, subconsciously

Reflecting on all those Lucky Breaks Observations on Networking Everyone networks all the time. Some of us are aware of it, some of us less so Networking is like any other skill: the more you practise it, the better you get Ice-breaking is a necessary part of networking. Use it to create a “hook” Pause for breath! Networking efficacy increases the more you listen All friends were strangers once Activity driven by prospect of reciprocal gain There is no one correct networking style, it adapts to suit the situation and people within it Talking about football or any other sporting activity is “small talk” or icebreaking The clue is in the name Listen for at least 50% of the time and modify your approach to suit the situation

Work out why you want to do it, what you have to offer, and what your game plan is Networking 101 Stay focussed Know your USP Find common interest Select the right channel Maintain your new knowledge Be memorable … in a good way PURPOSEPURPOSEREWARDREWARDINQUIRYINQUIRYFORMATFORMATORGANISATIONORGANISATIONIMPRESSIONIMPRESSION You’re a chocolate bar, what does your wrapper say? What you can do? Who you work for? What/who you know? Career opportunities Learning opportunities Business development ideas and sales leads Opportunities for collaboration Or just collecting interesting people Before you engage, know how you want to be remembered First impression non verbal basics: appearance, body language / bearing Verbal cues: vocabulary, accent, grammar Find a common interest to build rapport Active inquiry, but not an inquisition Share something, at the appropriate level Listen, actively Formal or informal? Verbal or written? Occasion or BAU? Planned or chance? Always be professional Deliver on commitments. Better to under-promise and over-deliver than vice versa Courteous response times to s / calls Manage your contacts file A poor memory could become your weakest link. Have a Plan B

How building rapport can drive the required behaviours

VT

Active Listening Test (or why you don’t need to know anything about football) Score yourself out of 10 8 – 10: Active listening genius: consider a career change into Sales or MI5/68 – 10: Active listening genius: consider a career change into Sales or MI5/6 5 – 7: Good listening skills: how good are you at asking questions?5 – 7: Good listening skills: how good are you at asking questions? 2 – 4: Room for improvement: practice improves your information retention rate2 – 4: Room for improvement: practice improves your information retention rate < 2: I bored you into a sleep state, otherwise consider working on your listening skills< 2: I bored you into a sleep state, otherwise consider working on your listening skills * * I cheated: consider why the “old school tie” mattered. Common interests can be seen as well as heard

Networking by layers: A view from Sales

Tackle the assumptions to move forward

Getting it right

So what happens next? Go forth from this place and network like your career depended on it I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed Good Luck!

Alexandra Rice Executive Director Specialist Commercial Banking Please feel free to contact me via Linked InPlease feel free to contact me via Linked In Coutts Commercial provides the full range of banking products and services to companies from all sectors where the owners, investors and / or management team are either existing Coutts private clients, or who meet our Private Banking and Wealth Management criteriaCoutts Commercial provides the full range of banking products and services to companies from all sectors where the owners, investors and / or management team are either existing Coutts private clients, or who meet our Private Banking and Wealth Management criteria Coutts Commercial benefits from sector specialist bankers in the following areas: Hotels, Healthcare, Insurance, Media, Professional Practices and Real EstateCoutts Commercial benefits from sector specialist bankers in the following areas: Hotels, Healthcare, Insurance, Media, Professional Practices and Real Estate