‘Tis the season to give, and in that spirit, I felt it only natural to make this week’s networking tip about giving to others, thereby creating goodwill for yourself in this world. And that is GOOD for business!

In chapter 4 of my book, Networking Ahead for Business, I discuss what I call the “Rules of the Road” in networking. Essentially, they are “helping others and asking for help.” You have to be proficient at doing both to be successful in networking. The by-product of embracing this philosophy of business networking is the creation of goodwill.

Let’s take a closer look at the dictionary definition of the term goodwill (note: a single word, to my surprise.)

Definition of GOODWILL

source: Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary

a : a kindly feeling of approval and support : benevolent interest or concern

b (1) : the favor or advantage that a business has acquired especially through its brands and its good reputation (2) : the value of projected earnings increases of a business especially as part of its purchase price (3) : the excess of the purchase price of a company over its book value which represents the value of goodwill as an intangible asset for accounting purposes.

I always loved the idea of intangible value, something that you can’t immediately measure; but rather, you must have faith in its inherent value. YES – goodwill is very valuable…and it is a worthy goal in networking, business and in life! You can take it to the bank!

Here are five ways in which you can generate goodwill in your business networking:

1. Help someone in your network solve a problem or achieve their goal that has absolutely nothing to do with your business. Ask for nothing in return. For example, coach them through a job negotiation. Sit with them to review their resume. Help their children land a job or get them positively connected.
2. Go out of your way to help someone achieve their social entrepreneurship goals – that is, taking action in order to change the world for good. Write a check, connect them, spread the word about their mission.
3. Be there when they need you. Lift them up when they are down. Take time out of your busy day to support a friend through a difficult time. Be patient with them. Listen.
4. Apologize, say thank you. Show genuine appreciation to other people. Acknowledge their greatness, not yours. Invest in that relationship – no matter how small it may be today.
5. Give ’til it hurts. Embrace abundance. Think of yourself as a future philanthropist and act like one today. Trust that Karma will befriend you and take care of you in the future.

Your Networking Goal for this Week:

See how many acts of goodwill you can create this week. Put aside your projects, deadlines and demands and embrace GIVING as your key priority this week. Forget about commercial shopping and “stuff” and give, give, give what really matters… your time, talent, treasury and compassion. Watch how good that feels. Trust that this is not only the right thing to do, but that it will pay major dividends in the future for you and your business.