Working Your Net: Suggestions for Continuous Networking
By Wendy R. Weidenbaum
Networking is not just for the unemployed. Here’s what may be happening to you at work. You look around at your colleagues who just got promoted and seem to work on all of your manager’s big deals. At the same time, you come to work every day, trying to add the most value that you can. You don’t rock the boat, and you consistently bring creative ideas to the table. So, what are you doing wrong?
It’s time to get out of your comfort zone and start networking, both inside and outside the company. So, what can you do to proactively continue to expand and broaden your network?
Networking is all about developing and sustaining professional ongoing relationships, and these relationships do not develop just when you need something. You need to give to get. Below are suggestions to help you network to achieve your goals.
Make the time to invest in yourself – How many times have you said, “I have to start thinking about what I want to do next”, only to get caught up in the latest deadline. Set aside a couple of minutes each week to network. Control your destiny and make you the priority.
Get strategic – “You can’t be all things to all people” applies here. Find your focus and then identify your career goal. There are a lot of questions for you to begin to sort out. Will you move up to a larger position in the same company, move out of the organization for a new one, or move over to a complete lifestyle change? Be realistic about what you want, where your passions lie, what your true skills are, and how much you want to be rewarded for what you do.
Get busy – Once you have your focus, identify those who can help you get where you want to go. Think of a pyramid, with your best friends and family at top as your hot calls, your colleagues and peers in the middle of the pyramid as your warm calls, and the bottom of the pyramid is where the cold calls are that need to be made. Call the hot and warm calls first to build your confidence. Think about how you will involve your manager or mentor in this process – will they help or hurt?
Know who you are – Take personality instruments or speak to a career coach to learn more about yourself. Constantly ask those whom you trust to provide you with feedback. Learn where your blind spots are. Listen to the feedback without getting defensive. Are people giving you feedback that aligns to what you think about yourself? Is there a gap in people’s perceptions of you versus your reality? If so, what will you do about it?
It’s not about you – Remember the people you are talking to may hold the key to opening the door of opportunity for you. Think about their needs and how you can add value to them. How can you differentiate yourself from others?
Continue to learn – Read business magazines and newspapers. Continue to learn about best practices so you can share this information with those you speak with.
Get involved – Time is precious – volunteer for high impact/high visibility types of opportunities. Then, volunteer in your firm and the community, join and present at networking groups for your industry, and attend business meetings.
Don’t take it personally – People will say yes, when they mean no. People will say they will get back to you when they won’t. It’s not about you.
Keep your sense of humor, stay positive and be hopeful – Be sure to balance this with the recognition of when you are using hope as a way of not dealing with the reality of the situation. Sometimes you need to reframe or transform yourself instead of continuing to bang your head against the wall.
Follow up – Say thank you. Differentiate yourself by sending an actual letter in the mail. Provide an article you have written or some research you have done.
And after you land the opportunity, remember two things: 1) Continue to network. It’s better to build relationships before you need them, and 2) Keep in touch and open the doors for others who come knocking.