Welcome back to the Water Cooler! This month, we're considering your network.
I'm going to use that bad word, networking, for just a moment. So many of us cringe when we hear that word. Why? Because we've all had lots of interactions with people who are in it for themselves. You know the ones I mean - the people who talk about themselves, hand over their business cards (at least in the before times), and say "let's have lunch".
Or those annoying LinkedIn contacts who want to connect and then immediately start in with the pitch messages. Ack!
So let's not use the dreaded "networking" word and instead consider the lens of "relationship building" instead. How does that one simple shift change your perspective on this?
I once had a conversation with someone who claimed she didn't like networking and avoided it at all costs. And then I asked her about the dinner plans she had made with someone she'd known for a while through work and was looking forward to reconnecting with. That's networking too, I observed. And then silence ensued...
I can hear you groaning (at least a little) from here. I don't have time for this! I've got kids, elderly parents, choir practice, hockey - you name it. And that's okay! Dinner with everyone you've ever spoken to is not part of the approach here. Also, please know that "networking/connecting" is the first thing to drop off people's to do lists when they're busy.
Relationship building is a marathon, not a sprint. Why? Because at its heart networking is all about relationships. And relationships take time.
And we've got options when it comes to connecting with others. If you're an extrovert, you might just love heading to that big bash of 500 people in a hotel ballroom and making a whole bunch of new friends. If you're an introvert, you likely prefer the deeper conversations that come from more intimate one-on-one conversations over a coffee or a meal.
How about we start with this question:
Who are two of your super connectors (you know, those people who know literally everyone in your sphere of influence, in your industry or in your organization)? You know two at a minimum and more. Mentors. Friends. Old work colleagues. Family members.
Have you checked in with them lately? Do they know what you're up to? A quick email or text is all that's required, depending on what you're looking for.
Finally, consider this: who's MISSING from your current network? Who's someone you'd be curious to learn more about? Be bold(er!). Reach out for a 15 minute chat with someone you've never met. People love to talk about themselves and the work they do.
I would love to hear from you - how will you leverage some of these ideas?
Many thanks,
Darcy & the team at The Management Coach
Connect with me on LinkedIn
On the Shelf:
I'm including a link to a short piece from the Harvard Business Review on learning to love networking. The author, Francesca Gino, is a behavioral scientist and the Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. No promises on the love front from me, but I do endorse her tips!
https://hbr.org/2016/05/learn-to-love-networking
Because business = people. No people, no business. Community = people. No people, no community. Family = people. No people, no family.
This life thing is all about the people. And connection...Enjoy!
I'm going to use that bad word, networking, for just a moment. So many of us cringe when we hear that word. Why? Because we've all had lots of interactions with people who are in it for themselves. You know the ones I mean - the people who talk about themselves, hand over their business cards (at least in the before times), and say "let's have lunch".
Or those annoying LinkedIn contacts who want to connect and then immediately start in with the pitch messages. Ack!
So let's not use the dreaded "networking" word and instead consider the lens of "relationship building" instead. How does that one simple shift change your perspective on this?
I once had a conversation with someone who claimed she didn't like networking and avoided it at all costs. And then I asked her about the dinner plans she had made with someone she'd known for a while through work and was looking forward to reconnecting with. That's networking too, I observed. And then silence ensued...
I can hear you groaning (at least a little) from here. I don't have time for this! I've got kids, elderly parents, choir practice, hockey - you name it. And that's okay! Dinner with everyone you've ever spoken to is not part of the approach here. Also, please know that "networking/connecting" is the first thing to drop off people's to do lists when they're busy.
Relationship building is a marathon, not a sprint. Why? Because at its heart networking is all about relationships. And relationships take time.
And we've got options when it comes to connecting with others. If you're an extrovert, you might just love heading to that big bash of 500 people in a hotel ballroom and making a whole bunch of new friends. If you're an introvert, you likely prefer the deeper conversations that come from more intimate one-on-one conversations over a coffee or a meal.
How about we start with this question:
Who are two of your super connectors (you know, those people who know literally everyone in your sphere of influence, in your industry or in your organization)? You know two at a minimum and more. Mentors. Friends. Old work colleagues. Family members.
Have you checked in with them lately? Do they know what you're up to? A quick email or text is all that's required, depending on what you're looking for.
Finally, consider this: who's MISSING from your current network? Who's someone you'd be curious to learn more about? Be bold(er!). Reach out for a 15 minute chat with someone you've never met. People love to talk about themselves and the work they do.
I would love to hear from you - how will you leverage some of these ideas?
Many thanks,
Darcy & the team at The Management Coach
Connect with me on LinkedIn
On the Shelf:
I'm including a link to a short piece from the Harvard Business Review on learning to love networking. The author, Francesca Gino, is a behavioral scientist and the Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. No promises on the love front from me, but I do endorse her tips!
https://hbr.org/2016/05/learn-to-love-networking
Because business = people. No people, no business. Community = people. No people, no community. Family = people. No people, no family.
This life thing is all about the people. And connection...Enjoy!