Networking skills are something that every professional – inside and outside funeral service -- should work to develop and refine.
Remembering the do’s and don’ts of networking could be overwhelming because no one wants to waste their time or make a bad impression. However, by remembering a few basic networking tips you can take off the pressure and network easily within your community or whenever you meet with other directors and/or funeral home owners.
Use Professional Business Cards
Business cards – whether you’re a new funeral director or a veteran – are simply a must…even if you have to get them printed yourself. You’ll miss many opportunities if you don’t have a business card, whether you’re at a church function, a civic club meeting or a funeral service convention.
It’s also important that your cards look professional…so stay away from poorly printed cards or those that are perforated around the edges, poorly designed, and full of irrelevant information.
Be Ready to Answer Networking Questions
As a funeral service professional, you should be prepared to answer questions about yourself and what you do. Be informed on current events surrounding the funeral service profession and stay up-to-date by networking with your TFDA members.
So, be ready to answer questions…and ask them, as well.
An old saying goes something like this: Talk to a person about themselves and they’ll talk all afternoon.
Good networking questions are engaging and thought provoking. Sometimes, they may even be entertaining. The point of these questions is to help you build a relationship. They can also help establish you as a serious professional as well as a caring, compassionate individual.
Understand the Goal of Networking
The goal of networking is actually just what it says – widening your resources and the circle of professional mentors you need to move forward in your career…and because funeral service is such a unique profession (and there are relatively so few directors in any region, your network – face-to-face, online, Twitter and Facebook – should serve you as a sounding board, soft landing when you have a problem and information resource for best practices and great ideas.