Give first
Give first: the networking habit that actually compounds
Leading with an introduction instead of a pitch builds the kind of network that sends you business for years. Here’s how to make it a fifteen-minute weekly habit.
Most networking starts with an ask. You meet someone, you explain what you do, and you hope they think of you later. Sometimes they do. Usually they don’t, because nothing about the conversation gave them a reason to.
Giving first flips that. Instead of opening with what you need, you open with something useful for the other person: an introduction, a resource, an honest opinion. It sounds small. Over time it is the single habit that separates a network that sends you business from one that just sends you newsletters.
Why giving first works
People remember who helped them. An introduction that leads somewhere is memorable in a way a pitch never is. When that person later hears of someone who needs what you do, you’re the name that comes to mind.
It changes the conversation. When you lead with help, the other person relaxes. You learn more about what they actually need, which makes your next introduction even better.
Your reputation travels without you. Every introduction you make is a small story two people tell about you. That is the kind of word of mouth no ad can buy.
Giving is more than referrals
You don’t need a client to hand over to give first. Some of the most valuable gives cost you nothing but attention:
- Introducing two people who should know each other
- Sharing a tool, template or article that solves a problem they mentioned
- Giving honest feedback on a proposal, a pitch or a website
- Passing their post or their opening to the one person who needs to see it
A fifteen-minute weekly habit
Giving first works best when it’s routine, not occasional. Block fifteen minutes at the end of each week and do three things:
- Look back. List the people you talked to this week and one thing each of them is working on.
- Match. For each one, ask: who do I know who should know them?
- Make one introduction. Just one. Two short lines to each person on why they should talk, then step out of the way.
A simple intro note
“Maya, meet Sam. Sam is hiring his first operations lead, and you’ve helped three founders do exactly that. Sam, Maya is the person I’d call. I’ll let you two take it from here.”
Name both people, give each a reason to reply, and keep it short enough to read on a phone.
Where Grove helps
The hardest part of giving first is remembering who needs what. That’s the part Grove does for you. It keeps track of what members are working on, suggests the introductions worth making each week, and drafts the note so all you do is review and send. You keep the relationships; Grove keeps the list.
Start small. One introduction this week. Then another next week. That’s how a network grows into a grove.