November 2011 | Vol. 3 Issue 11               In Collaboration with the Frost & Sullivan Institute


BENEFITS OF LOCAL PARTICIPATION

The Power of Face-to-Face Communication: SCIP Italia on Local Networking

  By Milena Motta
SCIP Italia Chapter Chair
SCIP

 


During the last few years many people have begun to overlook the importance of face-to-face communication—personally as well as professionally. Thanks to advanced technologies, enhanced connectivity is making online meetings and networking much easier to undertake on a consistent and frequent basis.

The speed and volume of communication increases with e-mail, voice-mail, instant messaging and social networks; the internet is growing at an exponential rate, and so it follows that Internet communities are increasing rapidly as well.

Social networks accelerate relationship development and give you the opportunity to simultaneously interact with far more people than you would likely see at a single networking event where you can’t possibly speak with everyone due to time and scope restrictions. Again, social networking allows you to respond and interact with people when and how often you want.

At this point, you might be thinking, “Wow! Online communication offers the greatest advantages!” But the underlying result is that some of the dialogue and personal touch points begin to disappear when face-to-face communication declines in favor of online efforts.

Since nothing can replace open, honest, face-to-face communication, the key to success in building the strongest networking environment comes from combining traditional networking with social networking. By offering old-fashioned, brick-and-mortar meetings at the local level, SCIP ITALIA encourages people to participate in local community events and directly exchange ideas and thoughts face-to-face. And, opening these local meetings up to non-members, we’ve also managed to expand this multi-tiered approach and our professional networking community at the same time. Finally, meeting participants tell others in their social networks and internet communities, becoming word-of-mouth promoters of SCIP and the intelligence community at large.

With social networking growing in favor, it can be difficult to attract a large enough audience to warrant the cost of speakers and space. In the past, SCIP Italia has had to cancel an event because too few people registered to attend. To be successful, we need to identify, understand and deliver on the interests of the members of our CI community. Social networks and online communities can help local chapters, like SCIP ITALIA, identify desirable subject matter for meetings through internet-based surveys, e-mail questionnaires and forums.

In 2012, SCIP ITALIA will continue to offer CI professionals different networking alternatives—including at least quarterly face -to-face gatherings—because we still believe that a smile makes a lasting impression and a handshake is always welcome!

About the author

Milena Motta is the Coordinator of the SCIP Italia chapter. A charismatic professional, she has been with Strategie & Innovazione for 17 years, currently in the role of managing director. She can be reached at milena.motta@nstnet.it.

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  Attending a live event? Reserve your complimentary customized session with a Growth Strategy Consultant today! Ask questions and brainstorm with experts to evaluate and enhance your growth strategy. For more information contact Megan Houliston at 1.877.GO.FROST or Megan.Houliston@frost.com.  
 
Share your professional views and experience in the field of Competitive Intelligence. See upcoming themes slated for the monthly SCIP Insight eBulletin below; choose a topic and submit an article:
 Dec End of Year Recap
 Jan  A Look Ahead
Email Jessica Gordon for more
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Join SCIP
SCIP Blog
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CI News
Job Board
 
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 Highlights from past issues
 of SCIP's quarterly publication
Status of Enterprise Competitive Intelligence Practice in China (Hongyu & Zuozhi)
The Great European CI Summit Detour: Of Bears, Doughnuts and Chemistry (Thieme & Bernaiche)
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Feedback
Subscribe
Advertise
Analyst Briefings
 
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  The Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) merged with the non-profit Frost & Sullivan Institute in 2009. The partnership between Frost & Sullivan Institute and SCIP provides a powerful opportunity to enhance the benefits SCIP offers its members.  
 
Industry White Papers and eBroadcasts
 Now onDemand:
Using Competitive War-Gaming  to Improve New Product Launch
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Event Calendar
Our Solutions
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