Networking & Business Development

Since 2019, I have had the pleasure of being involved in the Empowered Women’s Event series as a committee member, with our organization as an in-kind sponsor. The event focuses on storytelling and according to event founder and host, Susan Freeman,

Stories have a transformative power to allow us to see the world in a different way than we do if we just encounter it on our own. Stories are an entry point to understanding a different experience of the world. Storytelling, presenting a different perspective of the world, is important when it comes to connecting with each other. It gives us an opportunity to learn from another person’s experience and it can shape, strengthen, or challenge our opinions and values. When a story catches our attention and engages us, we are more likely to absorb the message and meaning within it than if the same message was presented simply in facts and figures. When someone tells their own personal story, we catch a glimpse of a view of the world that may be slightly or radically different from our own. When we see the world as they see it, or walk in their shoes, the experience can inspire empathy.”


Continue Reading Why Attend an Event Solely for Women?

Also known as “How to Translate Content Marketing into Relationship Marketing” without using the big scary words that will make you run away from this post before you read it.

Remember the good old days when we just did a bunch of things and didn’t have specialized terms for them? Yep, these aren’t them.

There are a lot of things that you do or may have done for a while, that now have terms associated with them. You may hear those terms bandied about and get turned off by them, but my belief is that if you knew what they were really talking about, you’d realize that they refer to things you’re already doing and feel a lot more comfortable a) using them and b) maybe even exploring some of the other areas that they refer to more.
Continue Reading Turning “What You Say About What You Do” Into Connections

When networking, it’s easy to focus on the event itself and forget that one of the most important parts of the process is the follow-up. Networking, and relationship building, aren’t a one and done – they’re a process. And that process takes careful tending.

But the good news is that with a few simple steps, you can make that follow-up part of your post-event routine so that following up becomes as natural as brushing your teeth…well, almost.
Continue Reading Networking: Don’t Forget to Follow Up!

There have been many jokes and memes about how we have all forgotten the most basic of social skills after being locked down for two years.

But in all seriousness, it sometimes feels like when you don’t flex a certain “muscle,” you forget how to use it. In some ways, the last two years have really dragged on, but in others, they’ve flown by. So it can come as a surprise when you’re getting excited to return to that first in-person event only to realize that you may feel a little rusty.
Continue Reading Help! I’ve Forgotten How to Network!

It’s the middle of February. In many places, it’s cold and dreary and it’s a wee bit hard to feel motivated. You may recall that a couple of weeks ago, we talked about resolving to throw out your business development plan so that you could start fresh and see what is truly working and what isn’t – now it’s time for phase two.

Resolve to try something new. 

Another area where it’s easy to get stuck when planning is the temptation to just alter or continue what you’ve been doing all along.
Continue Reading Resolve to Try Something New

What better way to celebrate International Networking Week with a throwback to a post I wrote about international networking (updated for these modern times)?

With virtual platforms bringing us even closer together these days, the ability for us to connect with counterparts from across borders is easier than ever. But that means we can’t forget that everyone doesn’t do business in the same way that we do. That’s incredibly fun because it means we get to learn about other people and cultures, but there can also be a few pitfalls. Entrepreneur shared this great article back in 2014 on the keys to success for navigating networking internationally and I added a fifth suggestion based on my own experience – these five tips hold true today.
Continue Reading 5 Ways to Be Intentional About Your International Networking

I’m not big on resolutions.

Some years, I have some, other years I don’t, but they’re generally things I’d like to add more of to my life (like the year I decided I would try to learn how to knit – I’ve been crocheting since I was about five – yes, these are two different things).

Do I always have a business development plan? Yes.

So what am I advocating here? Sheer anarchy??

Uh, no. Don’t worry.
Continue Reading Resolve to Throw Out Your Business Development Plan Today

Bad news everyone.

There’s no magic bullet when it comes to LinkedIn. Or, for that matter, any business development or marketing tool.

There’s only strategy and hard work.

Anyone who tells you differently is selling something.

Are there instances where you’ll connect with someone and they’ll immediately buy your services or you’ll write a post and it will go viral? Absolutely! That’s down to luck (and sometimes, strategy and hard work behind the scenes). But it’s not because there’s some trick to it all. You’re not going to suddenly “figure it all out” and have one tool be doing all the work for you and bringing you lots and lots of clients. It doesn’t work like that.
Continue Reading LinkedIn for Lawyers: There’s no Magic Bullet

Just kidding – we’re not post-pandemic.

But in all seriousness, the last two years have dramatically changed the way in which we connect. But while some things may be different, other things will always remain the same.

One of my most popular posts this year was 5 Essential Networking Tips for Lawyers, so I thought I would update it for you to discuss what has changed and what has stayed the same, particularly as we head into the holiday season formerly filled with networking parties and now filled with additional lockdowns and questions about the future.
Continue Reading Five Essential Post-Pandemic Networking Tips for Lawyers

There is a lot of advice out there on how to use LinkedIn and why you should use LinkedIn and what’s useful about LinkedIn – have I used “LinkedIn” enough in this sentence yet?

I’ll begin at the beginning with a little story and without naming any names. About 15 years ago, when I was a wee baby and before LinkedIn was at all popular with lawyers, I gave a presentation to about 200 of my clients, extolling the benefits of the platform and why it was going to be the “next big thing.” At that time, it was nowhere near as useful as it is today because it lacked engagement, but I could really see the benefits. One of our very senior attorneys tapped me on the shoulder in the middle of my speech and in a stage whisper, told me that no one cared about what I was saying, and I needed to cut the rest of the LinkedIn stuff out because I was running too long. It was by far one of the most mortifying moments of my career.
Continue Reading LinkedIn: Three Actually Helpful Tips