Ask questions
I am who I am today because I ask a lot of questions. This is the secret to streamlining growth in my business. Importantly, I ask those I admire and want to learn from. Sometimes these are mentors. Sometimes these are just knowledgeable people I know. But many business owners shy away from asking questions because they’re afraid of rejection. Today, I’ll share my tips for managing your mindset to help you overcome this fear of reaching out.
Learn from others
Imagine you were to spend 30 minutes with someone you highly respect - to observe their approach to business growth and development. Who would you want to meet? Whose attitudes or ideas most interest you? I encourage you to make a list. Then brainstorm all the ways you can connect to them. Perhaps present yourself to them directly or have a mutual friend introduce you. As the next step - create a plan to make it happen.
Know who you want to talk to
Once you decide who you want to meet, take the time to learn about them beforehand. For example, research their business vision and culture. This helps you to ask insightful questions and invite them to share their story. Read their book or listen to their podcast.
Invite them to connect
If you approach the invitation without the fear of rejection, you’ll be more relaxed and natural. This increases your chance for genuine connection and a positive result. Importantly, you need to understand that people are often just busy. So a ‘no’ is not a judgment about your personal worth or value. Remember that - and it helps remove the sting. Even if the person doesn’t have the time to meet with you straight away, reaching out can be the first step in building a relationship with them.
Make it easy for them
To increase the chance for the person meeting with you, make it as easy as possible. Offer to go to their office or preferred meeting place. Or agree to meet before an event they're already attending. Or do a video call. And keep it short.
Be present and listen
When you do finally meet with the person, make sure you respect their time. Ask your attentive questions then listen. Most people will gladly share their knowledge and experience if the other person is genuinely interested. Remember, this is not about you impressing them or asking for advice on how to grow your business. This is an opportunity for you to learn about their attitude and mindset.
Take a chance
Remember, if you don’t ask, the answer is always 'no'. So, take a chance and ask for that meeting with the person you respect and want to learn for… you might be surprised with a ‘yes’!