Beehive Networking

Beehive Networking

Introduction:

• Set the tone for the activity – excitement regarding a different way to network
• Highlight objectives for the event (see PowerPoint)
• Provide clear guidelines on how to engage in Beehive Networking

• Introduce event host and thank participants for attending
• Ensure participants have materials:
  1) An “Ask” sheet
  2) One page of labels for each participant with his/her name and email address
• Quick run through of first seven slides to identify objectives, roles, timeframe for each round
• Go through a sample round

• PowerPoint slides – “GEW Event: Beehive Networking” <link to ppt slide deck>
• Projector
• Screen
• Tables with equal number of participants at each table
• Enough open space and clear paths for people to roam and walk from table to table
• Ask sheet (see Appendix 1)
• One page of labels for each participant with his/her name and email address on each label

Activity 1:

• Build fun and excitement around Beehive Networking
• Take a collaborative approach to networking – networking for our fellow networkers
• Identify a networking strategy – wide net versus specific contact type
• Gain valuable connections to fulfill each person’s networking “ask”

• Identify who will play which role within the hive (queen bee, field bee, worker bees)

1. Field bee clarifies and makes sure s/he understands the queen bee’s “ask”
2. When the timer starts, the field bee roams from hive to hive trying to collect contacts that align with his queen bee’s “ask” (s/he will collect one label for each person who knows someone that satisfies the queen bee’s “ask”); there should only be one field bee at each hive at any given time
3. The idea is that the field bee should get to as many hives as possible to collect as many contacts as s/he can within three minutes
4. Each round lasts three minutes (can be extended depending on size of group)
5. At the end of the three minutes, field bees return to their hives and hand over the contacts to the queen bee

• Repeat steps 1 to 5 for as many people as there are in each hive (i.e. five people at each table would mean five rounds), so each person has an opportunity to be a queen bee.

• Three minute timer
• “Ask” sheets
• One sheet of labels for each participant with his/her name and email address on each label

Conclusion:

• Bring the workshop to a close
• Discuss the experience and learnings from the experience
• Wrap up

• Review slide 8 and hold a group discussion on the learnings
• Review follow-up etiquette
• Respond to any additional questions

• PowerPoint side 8
• Optional: feedback survey

Appendix 1

Beehive Networking: The Ask

What type of contact do you need to connect with

to move your business forward?

Examples: Business development decision makers in the Canadian baby diaper manufacturing industry

OR

People in the raw foods industry in the GTA

What strategy will you use? Will you cast a wide net or be very specific about the type of contact you would like to connect with?

______