In all the training that we do here at Integrated Alliances, this is one of the areas that people ask the most questions about – Recommendations.
First of all, you need to have real meaningful business interaction with someone to have a credible recommendation. You are not recommending the person, but their actions as a business person. “Bob is a great guy“ doesn’t cut it.
That alone whittles down your list of candidates. Look for people that you might have worked on a project together with. Someone that has seen you in action, beating away the fires, planting forests of business, etc.
So – once you have that person in mind – have them tell a story of a project that you worked on together. You are looking for 3-4 sentences. Having some metrics (numbers) really helps. Here is an example:
“Bob was one of the reason’s out projects went so smoothly. In one project alone, he helped us perfectly install telephone services to 20 locations, all on a weekend and all in the face of many obstacles. Bob is your “go-to person” on telecom projects!”
How does that sound? It helps paint a picture of what Bob is like to work with, which is what recommendations are used mostly for isn’t it?
We cover this and more in Rock The World with your Online Presence: Your Ticket to a Multi-Pltinum LinkedIn Profile. Available now at Amazon.com. See more at http://www.rocktheworldbook.com
