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5 Ways to Get In Front of Influential Leaders

December 12, 2007

This is part 2 of last week’s post - 20 Leaders Who Need to Know You.

So, you’ve gathered their contact information - address, phone number, etc., right?  Here are 5 ways to begin your relationship with these influential leaders.

 1. Pick up your local paper or business journal.  Scan the stories for any of the names on your list.  Find a positive story that mentions one of them.  PAYDIRT!  Send a warm note complimenting them on something specific from the story. 

To the mayor, you could say “Thank you for standing up for (fill in the blank) I so appreciate you as a leader.  If I can ever be of service to you, please let me know.”

Do not, I repeat, do not, try to sell them anything at this point.  You are simply establishing a relationship. Though you may include your business card if you want to.

Do this as often as you can.

2.  Help them solve a problem.  You’ve heard this one before.  If you read or hear about a particular challenge they are having and you can connect them with a solution, write or call to offer it.  You will engrave yourself in their memory.

3. Go where they are.  If there is a networking opportunity where any of these leaders will be present, GO!  Again, this is not the time to sell.  Educate yourself so that when you get to speak with your leader, you can pay a sincere compliment or offer assistance with something you know will matter to them.

If you don’t get to speak them, follow up with a note. “Mr. Football Coach, I am so sorry I missed the opportunity to speak with you at XYZ Function.  I had hoped to tell you in person how impressed I am with the academic performance you insist upon from your team.  If I can ever assist you….”

4. Stop by with treats (not your product - not yet anyway) for the Police or Fire Department and leave a special note of appreciation for the Chief.  Theirs is a thankless job much of the time.  If you can, meet them in person and say thank you.

5. If you are face to face with any of these leaders and don’t know what to say, here is a question that will distinguish you from the pack:

“What is the biggest challenge you are experiencing right now?”

One of my clients did this at a high muckity-muck networking event and had people literally lined up to talk to her.

Once you have established a connection with these leaders, then you can SLOWLY introduce your business to them.  Even very influential leaders like to do business with people the know, like and trust.  By taking the above actions, you will become one of those people!

Love & Success!
Sarah

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Written by Sarah Robinson · Filed Under Sarah Robinson 

Comments

2 Responses to “5 Ways to Get In Front of Influential Leaders”

  1. Mara B. on December 17th, 2007 2:48 pm

    Great advice, Sarah. Will this work if you don’t have a physical product to sell? I think it would, but would you need to adjust the approach to do so?

  2. Sarah Robinson on December 19th, 2007 1:19 pm

    Hi Mara!
    It absolutely would. You are leading up to solving their problem(s) with your service rather than your products. Your eally don’t need to adjust the approach much because you are building the relationship with these leaders - not introducing a physical product to them. Make sense?!!

    Glad you enjoyed the idea!
    Sarah

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