Brenda Learns
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

​Writing
​what
​I learn.

My Top 3: Strategies for Building Your Professional Network

1/2/2018

 

The Networking Conundrum 

As an adult human with (or searching for) a grown-up job, we often hear about the value of networking--but how does one “network?” And how does one do it in a such a way that we’re meeting people, building relationships and connecting with individuals in a meaningful way? How do we do all of that without being (or feeling like) the slimy person who talks with someone today in order to shamelessly use that person for selfish personal gain later on?

Overall, networking includes meeting people, keeping track of them and nurturing those relationships in a mutually beneficial way. Let's break down each of those key components.

Meet All The People

We meet people all the time whether we’re working on a project, attending a conference or dressed in our least attractive ensemble attempting to sneak in and out of the grocery store. The trick with networking is to figure out how to meet people who share your professional interests. Here are three key places to meet the people that will become part of your network.
Picture
Look at all the people! Go forth and meet them all!

Coworkers and Vendors

I’ve worked for 10+ organizations, each of which had some turnover and many new employees. After I met someone initially, or sometimes after I worked with them on a project, I would connect with them on LinkedIn. I also connected with coworkers at other office locations as well as point people working for vendor organizations. Since I have worked directly with all of these people, they have direct experience with me as a coworker, manager or project team member.

Professional Organizations

​In the Twin Cities, I’ve been involved with the Financial Planning Association, Association of Talent Development, Professional Association of Computer Trainers, the League of Longfellow Artists and Fredrickson Roundtable for Learning Leaders. Each time I attend a meeting, I have conversations with people before, during and after each presentation. I make special effort to get their names and connect with them on LinkedIn afterwards by including a brief note on who I am and our conversation. These are people who have seen me in a professional environment and have had at least one personal interaction with me.

Friends, Family and the Community

There are people that we interact with all the time—like the server at my favorite restaurant, my daughter's math teacher, the guy who works from the same coffee shop I visit, the woman who knocked me down last week at roller derby. This also includes friends from high school, classmates from college and the friend of my sister’s that I struck up a conversation with a month ago. After I’ve had a good interaction with people, I try to connect with them since our paths may cross again, and there will definitely be opportunities for us to help one another out. Now, reaching out to them to talk more about a specific topic will be easier since we have had casual contact on one or more occasions. 

Some could argue that these people shouldn't be a part of a "professional network" since I don't directly know them from work. I disagree. I'm a firm believer that there is generally zero benefit to being mean to people and only positives from being nice to people. Go forth and be nice to people--if only for the sheer pleasure that being nice to another fellow human being can give you.

Keep Track of Everyone

LinkedIn is the core tool I use to keep track of my professional network.  This is a collection of people I have worked with over the course of my career, colleagues from professional organizations and people who are both friends and possible business contacts. I use LinkedIn to post my professional profile, link to my other professional social media accounts and stay current on who of my connections currently work for what organizations. In addition to LinkedIn, I also keep email addresses and phone numbers for people who I worked with more closely, and connect people with who are family or friends as well as professional connections through Facebook. 
Picture
LinkedIn is my favorite tool for keeping track of my network. Foosball is also fun, ergo the picture.

Interact in a Meaningful Way

The biggest mistake most people make with networking is staying silent until they need something. In order to network effectively, it needs to be a give and take relationship. This includes talking to people in passing when you see them, congratulating them on their successes, asking them how they are doing and offering help when you can. Is someone looking for someone to click through a webpage they are designing? Volunteer to help. Did they just publish a book that you read? Comment on how much you liked the book or share the book with other people who might find it interesting. Did someone just get a promotion at work? Send them a quick note of congratulations.
​
Even sharing insightful articles on LinkedIn on a regular basis is one easy way to give to, rather than take from, your network. In order to be successful, networking should be about an ongoing relationship that is mutually beneficial—not your list of people that you ask to do you favors.
Picture
Give back to your network! Sharing useful information, like whatever-this-chart-is, is a good way to go.

What Do You Think?

​How do you build and nurture your professional network? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Learn More

  • How to Network on LinkedIn
  • How to Build a Helpful and Well-Connected Professional Network From Scratch
  • How To Network The Right Way: Eight Tips

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Brenda is a dynamic training & development leader & innovative learning experience designer. 

    Archives

    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    July 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017

    Categories

    All
    Adulting
    After Action Report
    Budgeting
    Career
    Career Transition
    Civil Unrest
    Finance
    Health
    Hypothyroidism
    Inline Marathon
    Inline Skating
    Job Interviews
    Job Searching
    Knitting
    LinkedIn
    Music
    My Top 3
    Parenting
    Personal Safety
    Resumes
    Retirement
    Roller Derby
    Roller Skating
    Running
    Self Defense
    Skating
    Social Media
    Time Management
    Training
    Travel Tips
    Twin Cities
    Values
    Vegan
    Vegetarian
    Wellness
    WFPB Diet
    Yoga

Proudly powered by Weebly