Transformative Networking: The Art of Building Authentic Relationships with Michael Yoder
Student of the Game · Season 1 · Episode 49
Transformative Networking: The Art of Building Authentic Relationships
with Michael Yoder, Truth Work Media
Brad Noll welcomes back his podcast coach and longtime friend Michael Yoder for an off-script conversation about why so much networking feels transactional. They trade stories from the event floor, unpack why your brand is the emotional connection people have with you, and finish with seven practical reasons connection matters, from listening to understand to becoming the connector for others.
▶ Listen to the episodeKey Takeaways
- Ask who people want to meet. Before guests arrive at a Noll Team mixer, they are asked who they are looking to meet. It turns a room of strangers into a room of possible introductions.
- People are hungry for real connection. Even on the morning of a bad ice storm, 110 of 140 people who signed up came to the team's mixer. Brad says people are tired of being told social posts and ads will bring business.
- Your brand is how people feel. Brad says a brand is not a tagline from a marketing meeting. It is the emotional connection you have with clients and the people in your database.
- Start with people who already know you. Before chasing new contacts, invest in past and current clients. They already know, like, and trust you and can still make introductions.
- Plant seeds without clenching your fist. Like a farmer, you cannot control which seeds take root. Michael adds that trying to control the outcome only brings more stress.
- Collect cards instead of handing them out. At your next event, Brad suggests bringing no business cards. Ask what people do and who they want to meet, then follow up with a heart to serve.
Chapters
- 00:00Michael Yoder returns to the show
- 01:37The flyer that sums up bad networking
- 05:29Who are you looking to meet?
- 07:45An ice storm and a full room at the mixer
- 10:08Giving freely and why fear makes us transactional
- 14:14Your brand is the emotional connection
- 15:47Invest in the people who already know you
- 17:19The napkin, the bases, and planting seeds
- 22:45Seven reasons connecting matters
- 28:57Who Michael is looking to meet
Read the article
Networking That Works: Brad Noll and Michael Yoder on Building Authentic Relationships
The full story behind the episode, written to be read, shared, and found on Google.
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Buyer and seller guidance for the Fort Wayne market, hosted by Brad Noll.
Listen to Moving Fort Wayne →Meet this episode's guest
Connect with Michael Yoder
Founder and CEO, Truth Work Media
Michael founded Truth Work Media in 2014. His South Bend team produces podcasts for businesses across the country, including both Noll Team Real Estate shows, Moving Fort Wayne and Student of the Game. If you have been thinking about a podcast for your business, Michael is the person to talk to.
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