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NETWORKING EVERYWHERE: NETWORKING TECHNIQUES FOR THE IT MANAGER | |
May
23, 2003 You can influence the growth of your network. To do so, follow these guidelines of good networking technique: 1. Start with the people who care about you, then through them move outward to other people who know other people who would care about you. The idea is to form the right associations, as opposed to connecting directly to the people further out on the periphery via directory listings. Family, friends, neighbors, former employers, temple or church members, professional association colleagues, are all good people to start with. 2. Network with an agenda in mind— a sense of where you are going and what you want from your contacts. If you’re looking for a job, be prepared to tell them in a brief pitch the kind of job you want. 3. Get used to networking with everyone you meet by assuming others want to network with you— no matter where you meet them! That means making yourself available and accessible. Smile to the person next to you in line at the theatre or in the checkout line at the grocery store. Offer a suggestion about things to do in the area if you happen to hear a patron from out-of-town ask a hotel concierge about area events. 4. If your agenda is to find a job or look for sales leads, ALWAYS have business cards on your person and accessible. Have resumes and brochures in your briefcase. Know your pitch *cold* so you can convey your agenda to anyone you meet at any time. Then, FOLLOW-UP with a phone call, a letter, an email, or a visit to firm up your relationship. 5. Plan your approach at networking events. Arrive at meetings early and introduce yourself to other early-birds and the event organizers. Similarly, don't leave meetings early – you can introduce yourself to people afterwards and talk about the meeting. 6. Keep your word with contacts. Follow-up if a contact arranges for you to call someone else about a job. 7. Do something for the other person – go out of your way to demonstrate consideration for the other person. You can build your relationship with that person by sending a relevant article or referral. This is also important to ensure you’re not forgotten. Circle back every two or three months to your contacts with whom you have strong relationships and express your gratitude for their earlier help – not just stating again what you want. These efforts maintain your relationship. 9. There’s nothing wrong with asking your contacts for help – people usually want to help. Tell your neighbors you’re looking for a new job – they can’t help you if they don’t know you’re out of work. 10. While you should have an agenda for the results you want out of your network, remember you must GIVE first in order to get people to reciprocate. Only then will you get the long-term payoff. Do things for people, and they will do things for you. © David
Streit, 2003 |
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