People want to know how to approach networking. How to maintain relationships during different stages in their careers? And they want to know how to best add value when they're approached. There's a lot to this, it really is an art form, and having done it for quite some time I am happy to share some well established ideas behind it.
Lesson #1: Nurture your existing network.
I view a network like the foundation for a home. Before putting the walls up, you need to make sure you have a solid base on which to build. If your career is like a house and you are looking to add on a new room, you must ensure the foundation can support this kind of change. Essentially, a foundation is something you need to pay attention to on a regular basis, making sure there are no cracks, leaks, or structural issues.
Take the time to nurture your network in the same way! Keep up with your contacts and learn about what they are doing in their careers. Remember: you can learn a lot from each others experiences. As contacts make changes, be aware and be supportive. Send congrats where congrats are due. Moving forward, focus on your network. Make it a part of your regular routine and don't be afraid to make it fun. Below are some additional tips to keep up a solid network.
- Keep your contact information up to date
- If you are LinkedIn user (which I highly recommend), keep that up to date as well
- Make time on a regular basis to reach out to those in your network - something as simple as commenting on a posted article or a job change is a great way to get the conversation started
- If a contact is local, suggest coffee or cocktails, anything face to face....some of the greatest ideas come from networking over a frosty margarita
I'd love to know your thoughts. Feel free to post any questions or suggestions below. Let's keep this discussion going....more to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment