Posts tagged ‘harvard business’
Pay it Forward
On his Harvard Business Blog, Tom Davenport recently wrote a post about how “Forwarding is the New Networking”. This is a great observation and should be a core weekly activity of anyone in business development including business or non-profit fund raising of any kind. It gives you not only relevant (as opposed to awkward) reason to touch others so they keep you in mind, but also helps reinforce your reputation as someone who is thoughtful and considerate of others – so long as you are truly sincere about it, which will pay benefits in areas you can’t even imagine down the line.
I first learned this skill from my dad who would tear out articles in newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal or magazines like Fortune or Forbes, add a short personal note, and mail them to business colleagues who he believed would be interested. Some were humorous and some strictly business, but they all were part of his core being – always thinking about how he could add value to someone.
Mailing a tear-out of a magazine or newspaper article is still the best way to go as it adds a personal touch; in an increasingly impersonal and digital world, this will help you stand out. Second to that is to find the full article, paste it in an email (along with the link) and forward it on with a personal note to those who might be interested. Don’t forward it to a bunch of folks at once. You don’t want to be on mass emails so don’t do it to others. Do it individually, or in logical groups, to keep it personal. Try it and be patient. People will be thankful to you for sending something that adds value to their day.
