When most people decide to attend a business networking event  , it’s with mixed emotions . Yes, they want to network and bring in more business . But 99 percent of them are worried they’re going to have to start being , well, pushy.

I’ve got good news. If you’re a decent  person hates coming across as pushy then that’s a great start to your career as a networker. That’s because networking isn’t about launching into sales mode . It’s about acquiring people to know you, like you and trust you.

It is important to realise that we all like doing business with  individuals   we like . The rest can come later…once that relationship has been built . If you think about the people you do business with, or whom you recommend to others, it’s probably they are not the type of person  who foist themselves on you. It’ll be people you like, people you’ve been mindful of for a while. People who, when the need arises, you’re pleased to recommend because you like and trust them.

Newsflash: this is how the world works. It’s all networking is.

People love to be in the know and get a huge buzz from recommending “their” people to others. How many times have you heard someone say “I’ve got a fabulous mechanic”? Or, “you’re disappointed with you accountant? I know someone who’s just gone out on his own and he’s a top bloke”.

Those kinds of recommendations  are brilliant, but they don’t come as a result of selling  yourself hard to strangers. Building up that kind of authority takes time and multiple encounters.

So next time you’re about to go to a networking event, or you’re logging onto LinkedIn, or someone asks you what you do at a private event , there’s no need to worry  and retreat into your shell. Get your brave up and concentrate on being yourself and learning more about the people you’re mixing with. That’s what good networking is all about.

How would you feel if you turned up  to make the first presentation for a new key-account client without having done any preparation? Anxious, nervous, self-conscious, exposed? How would you feel about one of your team members if you found out that’s how they’d arrived at their first meeting? So I’m sure you’ll agree when suggested that to get the best out of any situation you need to do some preparation and planning.

Dont make the mistake as well of signing up to online business networking sites and not preparing yourself. Sites such as Linkedin require appropriate planning as you are exposing yourself to millions of potential clients. Get the best linkedin training you can as well as business networking training to ensure you maximise your business potential.