As we wrap up the final entry in the Triangle of Success, we have come to the "How to do it" section of networking. When many people think about the concept of networking, they can become slightly overwhelmed and intimidated as they think about what groups to join, how to engage, and what level of commitment to give. In this week's edition of KMM View's, I will give several quick tips that will give you direction/guidance on the best way to make networking "work" for you.
CHOOSE ONLY 2-3 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO YOUR FIELD OR INDUSTRY
The reason I only suggest 2-3 is that we only have so much time on our hands. Individuals who think it makes sense to join every networking organization out there hurt themselves because either they spread themselves too thin (and it becomes a major chore for them) or they are not getting the level of interaction needed in each of the groups they are a part of to truly allow their interaction to be meaningful. If you find yourself beginning to resent having to go to a networking event, you probably are in too many or the wrong ones. Pick 2 or 3 organizations that are related to your industry and/or will help you achieve a bigger goal you may have. For example, if you are in the HR industry but desire to move into sales, being a member of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) is a given, but you may also want to join a sales organization such as NSN (National Sales Network). This way you can continue to enhance your current career but are also keeping an eye out on how you can build your future career.
BECOME AN OFFICE IN 1 OR 2
After you choose the 2 or 3 organizations in which you will be a member, begin looking for opportunities to serve on a board/committee or as an officer for one or two of these. You definitely don't want to do more than two, as, once again, this could put you at risk of spreading yourself thin and not being able to do a good job. The reason this is important is that when you volunteer for a position within a major organization, you get a chance to showcase a number of skills (organization, project management, relationship management, etc) and you never know who else is also a part of that organization that could be impressed with your abilities and either decide to mentor you or help you to a new position within your own company or a new one. However, you have to make sure that you put yourself in the best position to be successful because if you do a poor job, this could hurt your reputation/brand and negatively impact your future opportunities.
PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE
Networking is a not an easy and natural thing to do at times. Some people have the natural gift of "gab" and can be comfortable in any setting. For the rest of us, this can be very awkward as we look for the right things to say and do. However, as with everything in life, the only way to get better is to work at it consistently. This will include things like work on your elevator speech to make sure you can tell someone what you do concisely and in a manner in which they can actually understand. You will also want to work on your active listening skills. The best way to make someone interested in you is to express interest in them. Practice active listening techniques like repeating their statements for clarity, asking good questions, and maintaining strong eye contact. You will be surprised how this will draw people to you and make them feel comfortable talking to you. Also, work on your storytelling ability to help entertain people with humorous accounts of your work, the industry, or anything else that could be interesting. Everybody likes someone who is funny and this will naturally help you make great connections. Toastmasters is a great organization to help with this endeavor, as well as just speaking in general. They have been helping people be more comfortable with speaking for years and are all over the world.
Networking can appear to be tough, but if you make sure you have the right approach and attitude, it can be fun and very helpful to your career. By taking the time to pick the right organizations, become an active member in them, and practice on improving your networking skills consistently, you'll be well on your way to reaping the rewards of your efforts.
Ken Middleton is an Account Manager at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and services. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
No comments:
Post a Comment