Are You Guilty of or Have You Been a Victim of the Salesy Networking 1:1?

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.