What The Heck Are Self Employed Team Building Socials?

Tomahawk Team Building social Dorset Hill Jewellery

Upcoming Business Networking, Dorset Self-employed Team Building Socials

Upcycled Bracelet Making Workshop

Date: Monday 29th April, 10am -12pm
Venue: Guide Hall 24 Ashurst Rd, West Moors, Ferndown BH22 0LS
BOOK HERE £20 per person (Limited Spaces)

Biscuit Decorating – Biscuits By Sarah B

Date: Friday 20th September 10am -12pm
Venue: The Cookie Shack, 15 Droxford Road, Bournemouth, BH6 5PL
BOOK HERE £11 per person (Early Bird Special – Limited Spaces)

Netwalking, Business Networking Dorset 

More business networking in Dorset comes in the form of Netwalking! The health benefits of walking are well documented and so are the benefits of networking. So why not come and join me to combine them both? #WellnessWalk #Netwalking

We will meet at Potterne Park, Verwood BH21 6RS by the skate park and walk to Moors Valley and back (via the coffee hut!). There is no charge, and car parking at Potterne is free. Children and dogs are welcome.
Please do shout if you are coming so we can wait but I will aim to leave 10am.

     Wednesday 17th April, Wednesday 8th May

The History of Self-employed Team Building Socials

Business networking doesn’t have to be boring and if you live in Dorset, I’ve got you covered. Regular followers will know that I began on a whim, but hey that’s how all the best ideas start, Self-Employed Team Building Socials (I could do with a better name) in 2018. It started with an off the cuff comment about archery which turned into an archery session followed by a developing schedule of dates. Networking is all about building your support network/tribe/community whatever term you want to use.  Those in your first generation of contacts are usually the people who help you grow, develop and become your friends, they aren’t usually your ideal customers.  Having already built a strong networking community around me it’s not surprising the socials worked so well. The socials are not only a chance to get out in the fresh air, exercise and do something different but providing craft-based sessions enabled some key members to show off their skills and talents and for others to relax and get lost in creativity.

“The thing about Joanne’s Networking and Team Building events are they’re different to the standard business networking events currently available.  You get to learn a new skill and have fun, this puts you at immediate ease and is a great formula when bringing together a mix of small business owners from different genres ….. you all end up laughing, learning and loving it!” Katie, Teach Wessex 

7 Ways To Successful Networking

The first thing you have to get into your mind straight away is that the key to networking lies in developing relationships. I have seen so many people attend events and try to aggressively sell to other attendees or concentrate so hard on thrusting their business cards into as many hands as they possibly can, paying little or no attention to the people around them. There is nothing worse than turning up to an event and having someone talk at you about their business for the umpteenth time because they didn’t take the chance to chat properly with you and haven’t even realised you have met them before.

Here are some of my basic business networking tips;

  1. Make Yourself Approachable: Be confident & chatty and smile! Smiling shows confidence and opens the way for communication as it makes those people around you feel comfortable to engage.
  2. Keep Eye Contact: Respond to people so they know you are engaged and interested.
  3. Listen More Than You Talk: Actively listening is a skill and key tool when it comes to networking.
  4. Ask Open Ended Questions: This stops the person you are talking with just replying yes or no and can help encourage the conversation to flow and ultimately get to know each other better.
  5. Don’t Hard Sell: Unless the group has a 5 minute pitch/introduction session leave the sales patter at home.
  6. Don’t Be A Stranger:  Take time after events to reconnect with people on Social Media, follow their Facebook page, seek them out on LinkedIn arrange to meet up at more events or even just for a coffee. Business networking is about developing relationships which happens long after my events.
  7. Enjoy Yourself!: You may think that happiness and success go hand-in-hand because success = happiness, but it’s not true.  Have you noticed when you spend time with someone who makes you feel happy, positive and enthused, you want to repeat that transaction again and again? Why is that? Because the positive feelings you generate by being friendly to one person extend beyond the actual interaction. And what is more fun than throwing some axes around with your friends?

Previous Self-employed Team Building Socials 

Archery, Rifle Shooting, Fencing, Abseiling, Tomahawk Throwing,
Notebook Decorating & Christmas Wreath Making & Bath Bomb Making with Made by Me Craft Parties, Trampolining, Beaded Bracelet Making with Delicious Jewellery, Mighty Claws Adventure Golf,
Calligraphy, Clay Workshop with Creative Clay For All, Vision Board Workshop,
Powerfan, Colouring In with Sarah Lovell Art,
Gnome Making Workshop with Jo’s Healing Cabin,
Beeswax Wrap Making & Indian Block Printing with Sunny Bunny Crafts,
Kazie’s Encaustic Art, Biscuit Decorating with Biscuits By Sarah B

Networking A Successful Small Business, The Book

To learn more about Netwalking and its health benefits see pages 51-53 and Self-employed Team Building Socials see pages 64-67 of my book “Networking A Successful Small Business“.

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10 Comments

  1. March 3, 2018 / 1:55 pm

    Thank you for organising events for self employed Mum’s Joanne, it is the one thing I miss from being ‘employed’, socialising with others in a team building way.
    I really enjoyed the Archery and the Air Rifle Shooting and very excited for the upcoming Tomahawk Throwing.
    Great idea, thank you.

  2. March 3, 2018 / 2:12 pm

    I’ve attended the archery and rifle shooting days so far and I’ve had a ball! I feel like it’s really cementing the relationships I’ve made through networking and it’s fantastic to try new things and boost my confidence too.
    I’m really appreciating a couple of hours out of the office to allow some fresh perspective on my business. Thank you for organising the team building events and I look forward to running the notebook making event this month.

  3. March 3, 2018 / 6:25 pm

    I took part in the archery session, it was a fab morning spent with other local business mums and a chance to try something I’ve never done before.
    We all had such fun and it was a wonderful to get out of my studio for a while and spent time with others, a great way to socialise and build friendships.
    Big thanks to Joanne for taking the time to organise these events.
    I can’t wait for the next one

  4. March 6, 2018 / 10:24 am

    Thank you so much for organising these fantastic events I had an absolute blast trying out archery for the first time ever and also have a go at rifle shooting again (I need practice in both for sure) It was lovely meeting new people at the same time! I am looking forward to the next event already! AK

  5. March 15, 2018 / 8:44 pm

    I had great fun on the Notebook decorating session. Loved being able to take a break from my own business and socialise with others and do something fun for me! Thanks Joanne for organising the sessions. Looking forward to booking onto more Social sessions. Definitely made me more productive for the rest of the day!

  6. March 16, 2018 / 9:14 am

    Loving the sessions so far. Having a bit of ‘me’ time and getting out of the day to day business stuff has been great. Being self-employed can feel a bit lonely at times, but having some social events to attend has been great for my health & wellbeing. Thank you!

  7. March 16, 2018 / 9:37 am

    Being self employed I rarely get to speak to other real life humans! Even the school run is too manic for more than just a wave and a quick ‘hi’, so coming along to these sessions has truly been a wonderful experience, getting out of the house, putting on real life clothes and not just ‘working in my pyjamas’ all day, without wanting to sound cheesy in any way- it lifts the spirits! And everyone is friendly and welcoming. So thank you so very, very much for organising these. X

  8. April 30, 2018 / 5:12 pm

    Thank you so much for making these mornings happen Joanne. It’s hard to stay upbeat and motivated sometimes when you are your own boss. Just coming along, seeing everyone, doing an amazing challenge, be it archery, shooting, tomahawk throwing or craft and having a laugh puts a happy buzz back in my week!

    • April 30, 2018 / 5:45 pm

      Thanks for all the lovely comments it keeps me inspired to do more events and also that I’m on the right track when it comes to networking and building our tribe.

  9. July 2, 2018 / 8:04 pm

    Thank you Joanne for inviting me to run my bracelet workshop at one of your networking events. Lovely ladies to chat to and a relaxing morning session plus loved all the beautiful bracelets made and the fab colour combinations. Must come back and experience one of your networking sessions myself.