How to Raise Your MQ (Mensch* Quotient) Savvy Networkers Pay Their "Dues"

M.Q.

There is no way to get around paying our dues. Whether it's the monetary fee required to join a business networking organization or the payments of the experience we survive and prevail, we do not get our due, unless we pay attention to the "Do's." The people who "do the right things'' in a courteous, respectful and honest manner have a high "M.Q." --- Mensch Quotient. There is no higher compliment than being called a mensch. They are honorable people of integrity and character. They are good people, the people we want to have around in both our professional and personal networks, because they always make us feel good, comfortable and special.

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*See Glossary

The question: How do we find these people?
The answer: Be one. And keep your eyes and ears open.

There's a paraphrase of the old adage about friendship: "The best way to make a friend is to be one." If we pay attention to the "Do's," we'll attract those exemplary people in our workplace, in our associations, and in our lives.

Much of the M.Q. is determined by:
> How we communicate.
> How we interact.
> How we behave.

How to Raise Our M.Q.s

DO:

1) Participate: attend events, join organizations, be active.

2) Work rooms: mingle with good manners, charm and interest in others.

3) Pay Attention: be ``in the moment'' in any conversation or activity.

4) Do your best, be reliable, always work hard and smart. Competence is key to success. "When you do so, others spread the word," according to Rich Gold, international strategic marketing consultant.

5) "Be a student of the Masters. Learning is a life-long process," advises Patricia Fripp, my favorite professional speaker (and friend), because she lives her message both professionally and personally.

6) Use your library card to augment search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo). All we would ever want to know about anything is available in the ``house of knowledge:'' the local library. Librarians want to help us find what we need. Ask for help.

How lucky for us that we can read! It's Mrs. Kurtz', my fifth grade teacher's reminder: "The closest thing to knowing something is to know where to find it." The networking version: And to whom one may pass the ball for "the assist."

7) Give praise and compliments; express appreciation. When we do that we respect, acknowledge contribute to those who have done well for us. Studies on motivation show that being given credit and acknowledgement motivates people to perform their tasks or jobs well.

"Pass on the praise of others," suggests Dr. Duffy Spencer who likes to
"Good-Mouth" people.

Corollary: Accept praise by saying thank you.

8) Visit bookstores. There is much to be gleaned from the books that grace the shelves, even if it is the revelation of current trends. Although we can now buy books online, bookstores offer an opportunity to find the book you didn't know you wanted. Bookstore personnel are generally people who love books and the written word, and are pleased to assist.

9) Shine the light on others. Or, as the adage goes, give credit where credit is due. Former Deputy Chief of San Francisco Police Department, Frank Reed, expressed great admiration for his boss, former Police Chief William Casey. ``Chief Casey was always willing to pick the best people and to share the limelight! It is human nature that we do our best when public credit is given for our efforts.'' Amen!

As educators, we learned to enthusiastically acknowledge students' successes in public, and to admonish in private. (My belated apologies to any of my former students in Chicago or San Francisco if I broke either of those rules.)

10) Remember your roots. If we don't remember where we came from, the people who are there will never forget that we forgot.

In paying dues, we must remember the basics of savvy networking and do give ``just due'' to those who deserve it.

Based on Susan RoAne's books The Secrets of Savvy Networking and Face to Face: How To Reclaim The Personal Touch in a Digital World.

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©2012SusanRoAne Reprint only with the permission of author susan@susanroane.com

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