This is a question that is usually asked at the end of a formal meeting. This question is useful at the end of meetings to draw out anything that may have been left off the agenda in the first place.

But my  good friend Jackie Groundsell over at the 12:30 The Women’s company has adopted this as the tag line for this year’s annual conference.  I have been thinking about this tag line in relation to women’s networks.

As I pondered this I did wonder whether women are better at networking and if so why? I can’t provide you with a logical answer to this question but I believe that women are fabulous  at networking and I have been at the receiving end of  this .

I had a problem recently when a parcel I needed for a meeting with John Lewis was stuck at Stansted Airport. You guessed it I put out a private message to my fellow bloggers over at Birds on the Blog and before I knew it my parcel had arrived and I made the meeting. What was interesting about this was,  I tagged my question on a thread that was to do with the Birds on the Blog, but ladies took up my “Any other Business” question and dealt with it. I also felt confident to ask this question in such an environment and did not feel that I would be ticked off sidetracking the discussion.

Something else that has been on my mind; the notion of connectedness and I wrote about this a little while ago. The idea of not having to look for work if you are well connected may seem far fetched but Jackie and I tested this out since my post.

Here is what I happened. Whilst I was in Rwanda last December Jackie sent me an email introducing me to Julia a jewellery designer.

When I got back Julia and I exchanged a few emails and phone calls. I discovered that Julia had previously  lived in Ireland where she specialized in Ethnic jewellery but her suppliers had dropped off the face of the  earth  so to so say, leaving her high and dry. She was keen to restart her business here  in the UK and through  a quick conversation with Jackie she learned that Jackie knew someone that might help her and that someone is Me. I gained a new customer and Julia’s problem with suppliers was resolved. That dear readers is the value of being well connected!

So if you are  looking to kick start your networking this year don’t the  Any other Business event on 16 March 2010

A strange thing to say perhaps but that is the exact view of Thomas Power co founder  and Chairman of Ecademy

I met Thomas last night at the Weybridge Ecademy and he gave a powerful talk about the value of networks , being connected and the value of being connected.

The central message to us was that whilst our children understand the value of networks and we need to learn from them. In addition that well connected people never have to look for work  or contracts as these will find them some how.

I had a one to one  5 minute chat after the event and he shared some tips with me on how I can  resolve a current business challenge by growing my network.

Thomas said to me, Ida you can’t be that well connected if you can’t resolve that challenge through your network!

I did wonder whether he had a point so I started to look back on some of the most recent experiences I have had with a view to testing his theory after all I pride myself on my networking abilities!

If you read my story of how I got started with Ethnic Supplies , I will now fill you in with some of the  detail that tests Thomas’ theory.

I mentioned a visit to Madagascar to meet the producers there. I got two phone calls one was from a local glossy magazine known as The Elmbridge, they  had heard about what I was up to and wanted to do a feature about me and my work  The other and perhaps most significant was a call from my local Business Link in Woking.

They wanted me to be a panelist on their road shows  entitled  WHAT  IS  STOPPING YOU  and the idea was that I would share my experiences fo setting up Ethnic Supplies with other women.  The last of these events I took part in was in February this year where I met Jackie who was a panelist too.

Fast forward to May 2009 and I am in Uganda with a client when an email drops in from Jackie, it said

Ida I was touched by story and wondred if you would be  willing to appear as a panelist at our annual general meeting in March next year  as I think some of our members will find it inspiring!

Jackie is someone I have come to know and like and I  immediately accepted  her request and if you are a woman in business I would urge you to connect with her and better still sign up for her event in March.

Back to Thomas’ theory, is this what he means when he says  that if you are well connected  opportunities will find you? Is connecting enough?

Would love to hear your views on these issues