A selection of slides from a workshop delivered to a Federation of Small Business event audience

2. About Phil Parramore
 Live with Stephanie and her son
 Three daughters of my own – one with a mental
health disorder; one with incurable physical disorder
 Makes reasonable attempts to provide guidance
 Socially Inclusive / treat everyone fairly values
 Belief that being mentally or physically active
promotes positive wellbeing and improves
quality of life

3. My Network Of Skills and Work
 Masters Graduate of Leeds University
Business School
 Member of the Institute of Leadership
and Management
 Project Management Practitioner
 SFEDI qualified (skills for business growth)
 Equality and Diversity qualified and
practise
(Well!) over 30 year of public, private
and third sector experience
Started GuideDotYou via
Government’s New Enterprise Scheme
and Wakefield Business Support
Programme
Approved Growth Mentor – Chamber,
Orvia, CB Partners, Winning Pitch

4. Work Experience
 Civil Service – Operations; Consultancy; Policy and Projects
 School Governor
 Business Mentor – “I Know I Can”
 Favourite Flavours CIC – Director
 Condita Group – Interim Director
 GuideDotYou Change Solutions
 8 Business Networking Group Leader
 Creative Communities Group

6. Why Did I Tell You All That?
When You Haven’t Met Before Learn About The Person –
Goals
Achievements
Interests
Networks – how many did I highlight earlier? Who’s included?
Skills
No Selling!!
Business Survival, Growth and Success

7. A common networking meeting scenario
You’re a seller, I’m a seller
You’re not a buyer, I’m not a buyer
So why waste energy on trying to sell to each other?
But……..
Business Survival, Growth and Success

8. Me
You
My FSB
network
My
LinkedIn
network
My 8BN
network
My
Chamber
network
That Star
Connection
Your
network
Your
network
Your
network
Your
network
Your
network
My
Twitter
network
My
UCLan
network

9. Great business development things can
and do happen
It is often the power of a chance
meeting between two individuals
that sparks a revolution
Business Survival, Growth and Success

10. How to increase the probability of that
chance meeting
Use the right, not ordinary networking behaviours
Share what it is you are looking for?
Ask the right questions to learn where that star
connection “hangs out”
Business Survival, Growth and Success

11. Ordinary Networking Happens A Lot!!
Meeting/ conference
Handshakes
Brief chat about the two of you
Exchange business cards
Back to office
Business card ends up in drawer
No follow up
Business Survival, Growth and Success

12. Will that behaviour get you to that Star?
Me
You
My FSB
network
My
LinkedIn
network
My 8BN
network
My
Chamber
network
That Star
Connection
Your
network
Your
network
Your
network
Your
network
Your
networkMy
Twitter
network
My
UCLan
network

13. Power Networking Makes A Difference!!
Power Networkers just know that they might meet
someone who:
later introduces them to someone who can have
a profound effect on their business
who has an extraordinary talent that adds life to a
business idea
can help them win a big deal – investor,
customer, referral to finance
Business Survival, Growth and Success

14. It’s a very different mindset
Networking is an opportunity not a chore!!
It’s a key part of your business development
If your contact isn’t going to buy from you, will you throw
that business card in a drawer??
And miss out on becoming the next world
class business??

15. Data courtesy of our partners,
Business On, Ltd
50%
Are at risk of failure within the next 12 months.
80%
Could significantly improve the financial performance of their
business
25%
Could radically improve the way the business works within the
next 6 months

16. Business Survival, Growth and Success
According to world class research there are a
few common reasons why businesses do not
survive or why they don't grow as quickly as
they would hope.
Our interactive workshops provide hints and
tips about what organisations can do to
stimulate survival, growth and success.
Business Survival, Growth and Success

17. 9 Reasons Businesses Fail!
1. Uncertainty about the long term
2. Negative cashflow
3. Failure to create long range plans
4. No competitive edge
5. Lack of a motivated team
6. No clear lead generation strategy
7. Weak sales
8. Lack of focused leadership
9. Not retaining customers
Business Survival, Growth and Success

18. Let’s Address Those Risks
In Our Networking?
Then your networking will have real purpose
You have an outcome in mind
Help your contact be successful or avoid failure
(shock tactics)
Help yourself to be successful, surrounding
yourself with the right people
You can be clear what you are looking for
And ask the right questions
To get the right answers
Business Survival, Growth and Success

19. What Does This Mean For Your Business?
So for the next ten minutes think about your
own business and consider:
How can you adapt your approach during
networking meetings, improving your own
networking performance to help your business
survive, grow and succeed
Business Survival, Growth and Success
Now It's Your Turn!

20. Business Survival, Growth and Success
Obtain your FREE Business Fast Track
Business Review when you register with
Business-On
"Every MD should get the Review. It really
helped me refocus and improve the
business". Sue Goldberg Apollo Lighting

21. For workshops, mentoring and business plans to explore
business survival and sustainability issues in depth, tailored
to your individual business, contact:
Phillip Parramore
Business Sustainability Advisor
T: 07766 543356
E: info@guidedotyou.co.uk
W: www.guidedotyou.co.uk
: @PhilParramore
Business Survival, Growth and Success