This tip is a double win. If you hook up with a buddy or with a small group of people to plan and track your networking and relationship marketing activities, not only will you have the advantage of peer pressure and expectation to keep you on your agreed upon course of action, you'll also build your relationships with your crew or accountability buddy.
The way it works is this:
1. You decide on a small list of measurable activitities - say, for example, you'll meet two new people, follow up with four people you met the previous month, and find a way to help two people in your current client or prospect list. The exact items aren't important - what does matter is committing to a set number defined activities within a specific period of time.
2. Write down your objectives and share the list with an accountability buddy - or perhaps with a group (note, this isn't the same as a Mastermind Group, though it can have some shared characteristics).
3. Each week check in with your buddy or group. You can do it in person (time-consuming), by phone (very convenient) , or be e-mail (most convenient of all but the easiest to let slide).
4. All you do during your weekly checkin is report whether or not you met each objective. It's not a time for excuses or whining or big explanations, just did you or did you not meet your objectives.
5. Set objectives for the following week.
Repeat for your buddy or for each person in the group. If done efficiently, this weekly checkin should take no more than 3-4 minutes each, so the time commitment isn't huge. the personal commitment, however, can be very powerful and you each will be providing an important service to the other.
