What word do you hear quite often in the business world, social events, and especially when you are considering your career?

development CAREER DEVELOPMENT

What word do you hear quite often in the business world, social events, and especially when you are considering your career? Networking. While it has become somewhat of a buzzword, it is extremely important as a life skill. What is networking? First, let’s talk about what it’s not: Networking is not about collecting business cards. Rather, it is about building relationships. A more formal definition of networking is that it’s a supportive system of sharing information and connections among individuals having a common in- terest. You have heard the expression that whenever we want to get something done we can do it most effectively through people and relationships. That is true not only when it comes to one’s career, but also in one’s personal life.

The Lifelong Pursuit of Networking

Making professional and personal connections shouldn’t be a chore.

I believe that the reason I am suc- cessful and fulfilled in my life is because of the network that I am constantly building and maintaining. Networking enables us to gain new in- formation, find answers to challenges, understand others’ viewpoints, de- velop ourselves and others, and gain new connections and friendships. We learn and grow through these rela- tionships and being open to what we can experience from them.

Where to network The truth is, we can network anywhere and everywhere. I am always looking for people who I can help, new infor- mation that I can learn, ways that I can connect people to information and people to other people, and ways to broaden my own horizons. Some great examples of places to network are:

• work • socials events • professional associations • networking or informal groups • gatherings with family and friends • children’s activities • religious organization events • clubs • sporting events.

How to network Now that you know where you can network, how do you go about it?

First, it is important to have a mind- set that you are always networking, and to be prepared to do so.

If you are attending an event and know who will be there, decide be- forehand who you would like to connect with. Research those individ- uals online so you can determine what you might have in common and top- ics that you can discuss. Think about questions you might ask these individ- uals or things you want to learn from them.

When you’re at parties or networking events, be willing to break the ice and go up to people. Usually people are waiting for someone else to come up to them—be that person. Be curious and inquisitive. Ask great questions that get people talking. Show interest in others and what they have to share. Take that one step further and have something of value to share with them. Think of ways that you can add value to that person, such as information, di- rection, resources, or connections. Follow up to stay in contact with the people you network with. Many people meet others but never follow up, thus losing valuable connections. Ask if you can connect on LinkedIn and make sure to send them a personalized invi- tation. You might want to remind the person what you discussed in person. Accept that you will not have strong connections with everyone you meet. Identify individuals who are power connectors and work at main- taining those relationships.

Remember, networking is about forming mutually beneficial relation- ships. Make sure that both of you have the opportunity to share, ask ques- tions, and learn from each other. Keeping track of your network Develop a record-keeping system for your network. LinkedIn is a great tool by which to make connections, stay connected, and find connections. You can export your LinkedIn connec- tions to an Excel spreadsheet, then add notes to track information, such as where and when you met some- one, what information you shared with them, who they connected you to, and any other information that you want to remember. Finally, how do you maintain your network? If you are not in contact, those connections fade over time. Here are several strategies you might want to use to keep your network alive:

Be visible, both online and in person. I post on LinkedIn, tweet or retweet, blog, write articles, and share infor- mation that I believe benefits others. I also attend networking events and professional association gatherings to make sure that I am visible. Connect and reconnect. When at- tending events, my goal is to make new connections as well as to re- connect with people already in my network. I want to find out what is happening with them, how I can help them, and also share what is happen- ing with me. Make a special effort with power con-

nectors. Make it a point to reconnect with power connectors on a regu- lar basis. You will want to keep those relationships alive and growing to benefit both you and your connection. Reach out in between events. Consider sending a newsletter to your network- ing circle every so often to stay in touch. If you are in job transition, this is a critical tool in your job search tool- kit. You can send an email, a message through LinkedIn, or use a service such as Constant Contact. The newsletter I send includes my current role, how I can help others, and how they can help me.

You never know when you might need your network, so it is important to find ways to keep in contact, recon- nect, and add value wherever possible.

I cannot put a price on the friend- ships I have developed, knowledge that I have gained, and the many other benefits I have acquired as a result of focusing on networking as a lifelong pursuit. Plus, I believe that I have been able to help many people through my openness to networking.

What’s stopping you? Don’t miss out; start networking today.

Amy Dinning is a senior training and talent

development leader; [email protected].

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