Thanks to Olympic torch bearer Virginia Greene for networking advice

Here in this picture, at the far right, is Virginia Greene – CEO of the Business Council of B.C. – who carried the Olympic torch in North Vancouver yesterday. Just over a year ago, I got some really good advice on networking from Virginia and it’s made a huge positive impact on my life. Sometimes the right ideas arrive at the right times – and that’s what happened for me when I heard Virginia’s talk.

Last fall I heard the sad news that Virginia was dealing with cancer and had to decline an invitation to carry the Olympic torch on Vancouver Island. Then yesterday I read a story by Vancouver Sun reporter Gerry Bellett who reports that Virginia rearranged her chemotherapy schedule so she could take a second chance carrying the torch. She just had major surgery in December along with six rounds of chemotherapy – but this didn’t stop her from carrying the flame in honour of all people having chemo and everyone who offers them support.

“I now have an enormous regard for the kindness and help that has been shown me especially from people who are going through the same thing,” Virginia told the Sun.

I send my best wishes to Virginia and thanks again for the advice, which I tried to encapsulate in this post from my other blog on Jan 29, 2009:

Virginia Greene shares a new expression at IABC event in Vancouver

The expression is “hidden wiring” and Virginia Green picked it up a few weeks ago at a business event during the U.S. election campaign. Virginia, president and CEO of the Business Council of British Columbia, says the expression was used in reference to the bonds that exist between business people who work together from both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. Their personal relationships are held together by “hidden wiring” that is stronger than a change in the U.S. administration.

Virginia spoke before an audience of communicators at “Networking 101” – an event hosted by the B.C. chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators at Steamworks Lounge in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

“These relationships are so deep – so interconnected, personal, and one-on-one,” says Virginia, who networks all day long as a part of her job as Council president / CEO.

Virginia told us Business Council members reported in a recent survey that networking is the main reason they are members. Virginia described three different networking situations:

1) The optical opportunity – This is a “see and be seen” situation that shows your organization was represented at an event. You might just whip in for 20 minutes, circulate, says hello to a few people, and leave after making a quick appearance.

2) The serendipitous opportunity – You run into someone you haven’t seen for a long time – maybe someone who used to work at a company you just took a job with, or perhaps the ex-wife of your new boyfriend! These conversations can turn out to be very illuminating…

3) The strategic opportunity – This is a situation that is important to your business. You are there to work and you are approaching the event mindfully with a purpose.

Vancouver is “a nicely networked community”
We’re considerably more casual than other cities, and Virginia says our community is friendly, open, and entrepreneurial. People make time for each other and return each other’s calls nine times out of ten.

It’s “personal courage” that keeps us going in networking situations, as we follow up with contacts and try to get past receptionists who might say: “Will he know what this is about?” (though now most executives use email and blackberries and iPhones and it’s not as hard to get through the old school “receptionist filter”)

I leave you with two final tips I took away from Virginia’s talk. They are just so wonderfully basic and obvious – and important to keep in mind for those of us who might feel shy or “not on” or lacking in “personal courage”… (or self-conscious about our outfit choices LOL) We are all told that “confidence” is attractive and important – and this is very challenging for people who are naturally more introverted. So it helps to be prepared…

What do you do when you arrive at an event? Look for someone you know. That helps to get you relaxed, geared up, and social. Have a bit of a chat, then politely move on to someone you don’t know. What are some good ice breakers? “Hi. How are you?” is always a good stand-by – along with “What business are you in?” or “Where are you from?”