Women Networking with More Confidence:
Top Ten Steps (free Attitude is Everything Workbook)


( read or download the Free Attitude is Everything Workbook)

by Dawn L Billings, MA, CEO & Founder of The Heart Link Network®

Women Networking with More confidence.Women networking and confidence do not always go hand in hand. Studies have shown that women, although natural networkers when not thinking about networking, like sharing resources with one another in the ladies room, but when it comes to actually attending networking events, they often freeze up and get knots in their stomach. Dawn Billings, CEO & Founder of The Heart Link Women's Network, author of over 20 books on parenting, relationships, communication and networking shares ten steps that can help women network with more confidence.

1. Become a master networker. Learn everything you can about networking. As you become an expert, you will feel more at ease and knowledgeable. That knowledge and ease will impact how others experience you in a networking environment.  The truth is, just attending, just showing up to a networking event will have you soon feeling more confident for as you acclimate, the fear and tension you had at first, completely disappears.

2. Learn the power of "Next”. After a disappointment, open your heart and mind to what's next. Ask yourself "what is there for me to learn from this experience?" Believe that something better is on its way. Focus on the opportunities that surround you. Women networking together can be very supportive and encouraging. Just remember the power of next.

3. Write a commercial describing yourself. If you have nothing to write about, do something to become more interesting to yourself. Create and own your greatness! Visualize yourself being a person worthy of a commercial. When women network together they share. That is all that creating a commercial is, sharing what you have to offer that will benefit another. Allow yourself to dream the biggest dream you can dream and then take action toward it.

4. Take good care of yourself. Women networking groups allow you to not only meet great women, but to learn about new products and services that can help you take better care of you. There is only one you. The better you feel, the better you can build your business and help other women build theirs.

5. Choose relationships wisely. Networking with women is a wonderful way to develop new friendships that can bless and benefit your life. Find women who are willing to love, support, encourage and inspire you but who will love you enough to tell you the truth, even if you might not respond well to it. Create a community of at least five people in your life with whom you feel safe and mutually supported. Don’t lose heart if a relationship fails you. People are only human and we live our lives based on self-authored stories, not facts. If we lived our lives based on facts, we would have little to disagree about, but since so much of our life is subjective, we are left to writing stories about our lives that show us, and our actions, in a good light. When we do that, we can have a tendency to show others in a bad light so we can look good. It causes much sadness, frustration and heart break but it is an inevitable piece of being in relationship.

6. Set high standards for the way you treat others and yourself. Then live by those high standards. One of the most important standards to set for yourself is the standard of integrity. Be your word, keep your promises, tell the truth and you will be amazed at how differently people respond to you.

7. Decide what you want in life and go for it. Some people live their entire lives without stopping to ask themselves what it is that they truly want or dream. Don't settle for less than you really want. The world needs your very best and you need to live your dreams. Say no to what you don't want and yes to those things and people that are in alignment with you and your values. As you network with other women, stay focused on your goals as you help women networking with you, focus on theirs.

8. Concentrate on your strengths. Learn what your unique strengths are. When you look in the mirror, focus on those aspects of your appearance and personality that you like. Nurture your body with healthy food, exercise and rest. Study yourself. Understand yourself. Not in a narcissistic endeavor, but so you can learn what your unique talents and gifts are so you can develop them and use them to better your life and your world.  Networking with women can be a great way to explore your strengths more fully.

9. Take risks but consider them carefully. Don’t take risks for risk’s sake. Take risks that make you better, stronger, smarter, or better equipped to live your dreams. When you are afraid to do something, look inside and attempt to discover where the fear comes from. Once you understand what is causing you to fear, support yourself in doing what you need to do to feel more confident and secure. If you fall down, pick yourself up and move on. Success always comes from failure. The more risks you take, the more courage you build and the more confident you become. Life is abundant. There is no shortage of opportunities.

10. Accept that perfection does not exist. So, first of all, do not expect it from others. If you do, you will be repeatedly disappointed and frustrated. Take note of who you can count on to follow up and follow through, or who you can count on to send you qualified leads and put effort into strengthening those relationships and no effort into complaining or judging those who are not perfect. If you want to expect anything, expect excellence instead of perfection and begin with expecting it from yourself, first and foremost.

Understand that everyone’s confidence will be stronger at different times and in different areas of our lives. Don’t compare yourself with others. Compare yourself with yourself and always focusing on improving the mistakes you made yesterday or last week. Accept that life is a journey, and not a destination. If you do these ten things you will find that your networking experiences will be more fun and more profitable.
If you will focus your attention on these ten areas, you will become a master networker. If you are looking for a wonderful place to network with women, visit www.TheHeartLinkNetwork.com There are hundreds of locations across the US and Canada and Australia.  Just go to the locations tab and click on the state to find the location nearest you. Also visit www.TheHeartAlliance.com which is a no cost women’s online networking community with women from around the world. For many other options, just search “women's professional networking.”  Good luck and may you prosper as you serve the lives of those with whom you network.