Are You Guilty of or Have You Been a Victim of the Salesy Networking 1:1?
By Liz Wendling, Sales Coach and Beth Boen, Founder of SHE Leads Group
A networking 1:1 with a fellow SHE member, or anyone you have met through an introduction that has been presented to you as a potential referral partner, should be about relationship building, not selling.
As the Founder of SHE Leads Group, I have heard stories of the salesy 1:1 that can come across as off-putting and leads nowhere.
What do those salesy 1:1's look like?
- Perhaps the salesy one pulls out their computer and starts asking questions from their potential client questionnaire.
- Maybe, it is a one-sided conversation where the talker is trying to sell their services or trying to convince the other person why they should refer to them (that's still selling).
- The salesy person in her eagerness to demonstrate her expertise, provides an unsolicited, complimentary consultation for the other person's business.
We've all probably been victims of this salesy 1:1, but could we unknowingly be doing it ourselves?
As a sales coach, Liz Wendling often hears people express their desire to avoid being salesy, pushy, or stereotypical. Yet, they fail to recognize how their behavior contradicts this when they try to sell during a one-on-one networking call. This approach is not authentic selling; it is self-serving.
Selling on a "get to know you" call after networking undermines the genuine intent of relationship-building. Networking forms mutually beneficial connections based on shared interests, support, and goals. Shifting to a sales pitch signal that your primary motive is personal gain rather than establishing a meaningful connection.
If you genuinely want to avoid being perceived as salesy, stop this behavior. Authentic networking is about building connections based on mutual interest and support. This tactic makes others feel undervalued, disrupting trust and leading to feelings of manipulation. True networking success comes from cultivating relationships over time, where business opportunities arise naturally from mutual trust and respect.
To embody authentic networking, prioritize relationship-building over immediate sales. Engage genuinely to understand and support the other person's needs and goals. By focusing on creating value and demonstrating interest, you build a foundation of trust and respect. Over time, this approach fosters deeper connections, making business opportunities a natural relationship extension. Lasting success in sales comes from being a trusted advisor, not a pushy salesperson.
Bottom line: If your goal is not to be salsey and pushy but to stand out in a different way, you must shift your focus before it is too late and word gets out that you are in it for the money and not the relationship.
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What does SHE stand for?
SHE is more than a leads group - SHE Leads Group exists to support women in business development roles. SHE Members are women in business who appreciate the role many women have being a full-time caregiver to loved ones and advancing their full-time career or business. The letters “S H E” stand for Supporting Heart & Enterprise ®. Heart is our families, or anything near and dear and personal to us. Enterprise is our business or career. Members are expected to uphold the values and culture for which SHE stands. Every member of SHE Leads Group should desire to be a resource to each other. SHE Leads Group is more than just a leads group. We are a group of supportive women who truly want to help others in any way possible.
About the author
Beth Boen, SHE Leads Group Founder
Beth Boen has more than 35 years of experience in sales, marketing and customer service. She is an award-winning marketer. She is also a professional trainer and customer experience consultant. Beth loves helping people build long-term, loyal relationships that produce quality connections in their business that lead to lifetime customers and endless referrals. Beth helps people do this through her thoughtful blogs and training curriculum. Members of SHE Leads Group have access to more in-depth business development training through presentations at meetings from Beth, her curriculum, and guest trainers. Learn more about Beth.