This week, Lisa Hughes of Hughes & Bentzen gave a lively talk relating her experiences in college to the working world; specifically, “5 Things that I Learned from Sorority Rush”.
A sorority’s rush period is chaotic and short; thousands of students visit dozens of sorority houses, and everybody has to learn how to get acquainted quickly. Houses are evaluating candidates, and candidates are considering their options. In many ways, it’s a model business networking situation.
What does a successful sorority do to attract quality candidates? Many of the same things a business can do to attract and retain quality customers and a powerful business network:
- Rely on your personal network, but go beyond it — tap the networks of people in your network, to get an exponential boost in contacts and information.
- Be the kind of group people want to join — positive enthusiasm and energy demonstrate the benefits of membership, and inspire others to contribute.
- Listen to prospects — learning about someone’s priorities will ensure that you are attracting and recruiting the right talent for the group.
- Make prospects feel included — introduce them to other members and get them involved in the conversation.
- Select people who can help grow the organization — in addition to finding a business resource for your own business, you want to find people who will take on the role of growing the organization.
