“What insurance do you have?” should never be the ice-breaking question in a budding new relationship, be it patient-doctor, customer-client or networking relationship.

We have become trained to automatically pull out that card (assuming we are fortunate enough to have one). The action can trigger all the frustrations and constraints that the current health care paradigm creates for us.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

My networking tip this week will challenge you to create a new reality for yourself and to help you add brilliant and caring health care experts as core members of your business network. Trust me, when the time comes, you will be glad that you have made these new connections and built these trusting relationships. You want the right people to have your back when the chips are down.

P.S. I am writing this networking tip mostly for non-medical people; however it applies equally to medically-trained folks. I read a study last year that gave factual data showing that patients were less likely to sue for malpractice those doctors and medical professionals that they had a close/personal relationship with.

Your networking GOAL for this week:

Enhance your networking relationship with at least one or more medical/wellness professionals this week. Go beyond the patient-doctor relationship to get to know them as a a human being. Here are four steps you can take to make this assignment do-able this week:

• Step #1: Think about who you know who is a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, lab technician who draw your blood, clinical researcher, dentist, chiropractor, nutritionist, massage therapist, psychotherapist, hospital administrator in your local community. Who else do you know that works in the medical, wellness or related field? Think behind just your primary care physician in this exercise. Write down a list of everyone and anyone you know right now who has built their career in helping others achieve wellness and prevent disease.
• Step #2: Now look at that list of people and ask yourself if you are happy with the quantity and quality of these relationships? How much do you really know about these people? How much do you care about these people? How well do they know you? (note: if they have to pull your chart out to even remember you, that’s not a good sign)
• Step #3: Now it’s time for action. Select one or more people on this list and make it your goal this week to reach out to them from a networking angle. This means, you are not making an appointment, you are not asking for free medical advice, you are not complaining about how screwed up the health care system is. No. You are inviting this health care provider to get to know you and visa versa. Bonus points if you can get the health care provider to meet outside of the hospital/office/lab for lunch or coffee. Double bonus points if can get them to leave their lab coats behind. Real people getting to know other real people. Having a real conversation (something other than about where it hurts).
• Step #4: Make a list of questions that you’d like to ask them. Just like any new networking connection, your goal is to quickly establish rapport, have them be at ease with you and then engage them in a conversation where you can find as many things in common as possible. Remember to ask how you can help them (and know that you can!). And tell them what you are working on and ask if they have any good connections to help you get further towards your goals. If they are on Linkedin, send them an invitation. Drop them a personalized thank you note following your call or get together.

Let me know what results you get from implementing  this business networking tip  – NetworkingAhead.com/facebook