With ‘silly season’ almost upon us, many are thinking of the wasted working weeks coming up, where their clients aren’t around to speak with, or are too busy being entertained and entertaining to think about new business.

I must say I have to differ.

What a great opportunity to be networking

This time of the year is a great time and a fantastic opportunity to get out and spend time networking with our clients. After all, people are expecting to be using the pre-Christmas time in this way, so why not take full advantage of it?

Fill your diary for December. Full of appointments to catch up with clients new and old. Full of opportunities to make new acquaintances and to enjoy building relationships with those you already know. Fill it up, and start now.

Stop thinking networking and start thinking building relationships

Networking is a term that evokes lots of different feelings in people. Some with dread, some with fear, and some with opportunity. The truth is that most people don’t really enjoy networking in a formal context.

So, let’s start thinking in a different way. Start thinking about meeting people and building relationships. Think about introducing yourself to potential new clients and referrers. Start thinking about who you know and who they know, and who they can introduce you to.

This time of year is generally more social, and networking in a social context is a really good way for those of you who don’t enjoy the traditional ‘card swap’ type networking to do it in a softer environment.

Networking is all about building relationships. Starting new relationships, and strengthening existing relationships.

Top tips to help you fill up your diary 

So if you are not thinking ‘networking’ this December, here is a short check list of things to be doing to get your diary busy and get out there meeting people in what is generally a very social time of year.

• Look back though your diary and billings list, and identify who you have been to meet and who has engaged your services this year
• Block out some diary time to be meeting clients
• Get on the phone to them, catch up, thank them for the business you have enjoyed this year and organize to meet
• Go out to meet them, and enjoy it at the same time

And while you’re at it, why not think about other people in your client’s business who you would like to meet, and ask your client to bring them along too?

Have a great December.

Contact me

For more on developing yourself, your staff and improving the profitability of your business, please do get in touch. You can email me at james@jamesnathan.com, use the contact page on my website www.jamesnathan.com or call me on 07736 831151. Follow me on Twitter at @jamesnathan, connect to me on LinkedIn, or follow me on Facebook.

I look forward to speaking soon.