The Art Of The Connection Call
As entrepreneurial women, our relationships are what fuel us. It is therefore important that we make an intentional effort to allow these relationships into our network. In a fast-paced digital world, where emails and social media interactions dominate our professional lives, there is a valuable tool that often gets overlooked: the connection call. In ‘Build Your Digital Community’ Episode 75, our host Kristina shares the art behind these vital moments of connection.
What Is A Connection Call?
A connection call is a 20 or 30 minute opportunity to connect with somebody new. The call will typically arise from a DM / email or your network. The purpose is to get to know one another to see if you’re a good fit to collaborate. You can also use this opportunity to ask questions and chat through some initial thoughts.
Remember to only take as many calls as you have reasonably handle and follow through on. You want to nurture these relationships and that connection.
Tip: We love to set ours up on the platform Calendly, where guests can book themselves on specific slots in your calendar. We also recommend noting your calls in a spreadsheet to keep track of who you spoke with, what their goals are, and how you can support them.
The Mindset
Don’t go into a connection call believing it will lead to work or a nice return. People can sense that energy. Instead, take an open approach and focus on developing a relationship with that person.
Some people can also appear to be so far out of your niche. However, you never know where that connection can lead. It's not always about the direct person that you're connecting with. Many of our own opportunities have been forged via people who didn’t necessarily make an investment in us, but encouraged members of their own network to do so.
Provide Value
Before the call, offer to do an audit or review based on your service offerings. Then, on the call, you can provide guidance and lend them some advice. This also shows your genuine authority and interest.
Ask questions, be excited, and get to know the ins and outs of their business, as well as a sense of who they are. Find out what their goals are and what they are looking to do in the next six to eight months. Then start to think of ways that you can support them in the pursuit of those goals. These goals may be to gain more referrals, connections, or opportunities.
Follow Through
After the call, take fifteen minutes to create and execute on some action items. Maybe you need to email someone and make an introduction? Perhaps you had such a great chat that you want to book a podcast with them? Connect people with their goals - we can always be serving each other and looking out for one another.
Get Yourself In Rooms (IRL or Digital!)
If you are able to join a mastermind or a similar type of space with other high level people, do it. They can be so powerful for your business. Positive experiences can come from people giving you referrals within those spaces. These experiences can also have wonderful ripple effects that impact your business for years to come. People remember when you pour into them!
What If You Don’t Have The Capacity To Take One-On-One Calls?
We recommend hosting coffee chats where you invite high-vibe people to introduce themselves, get to know one another, and connect. These can be online. However, this is also a great opportunity if you have a group space where people can come and be in your energy.