Networking is a value throughout the entirety of your career. There are possibilities in the connections with business professionals and colleagues. Here are five networking principles to help widen and deepen your professional network for any stage of your profession.
Networking Principles
- Be generous. Networking is not meant to be a one-way “take” connection – taking insights, tips, job referrals, or constant favors for help. Networking is also the generous sharing of your expertise and business insights within a respectful give and take professional relationship.
- Keep it simple. Communicate in a straightforward manner. Understand that time is a precious commodity and currency. Pay attention to the time you engage with business colleagues. Be brief, make your point, then be done.
- Be respectful. I cannot stress enough the need for fundamental human decencies of respect, being polite, and being kind to others in all your business encounters. Be genuine in your regard. You don’t want to come across as an “Eddie Haskell,” one who BS’s their way with insincere niceties.
- Follow up and follow through. Follow through on your actions, your promises, and your commitments with your colleagues. This action dramatically enhances your integrity and seriousness to your networking relationships.
- Be consistent. Reach out to your colleagues consistently. Find the cadence that works best for you and stick with it.
Summary
No matter what stage of your career, understand that you have something to contribute. Do not minimize the importance of your experience. No matter how small you think it is, step up and share your experiences, your best practices, your insights, a quote that stays with you, your recent failure, or what you learned. Be engaged, be respectful, and be to the point. Also, be sincere in your intent for networking. People have an internal BS meter, and you don’t want to trip that alarm.
Finally, be grateful. Always say, “thank you.” We don’t affirm one another enough with appreciation in our society today. Gratitude goes a long way in our human endeavors.
What are your principles for networking? What would you add to the list?
I welcome your comments.
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