Are you satisfied with the quality and quantity of business contacts you’ve made through social media and the professional meetings that you attend? Whether you’re looking to make a job or career change, exchange information with others in your field, or promote your own business, you will likely be more successful if you develop and implement a plan of action for networking.
In order to develop a plan, you need to determine what your objectives are. Who and what kind of people do you want to meet? Are you looking for someone who can give you an overview of the industry you’re exploring for a career change or do you need contacts for a job change within your own field? Perhaps you want to meet people who could hire your company for the type of project you do best.
Now that you know who you want to meet, you can be more deliberate in your networking efforts. Some of the following approaches may help:
- Determine which organizations would be most relevant to you. Similarly, distinguish which of the social media would be the most helpful. For example, LinkedIn is usually most useful for business and Facebook is often more socially oriented.
- Set a realistic goal about how many people you want to meet at a given event. Resolve not to spend time with friends until you’ve met your goal.
- Remember that networking is a two-way street. Offer to help and share information with those you meet.
- Ask a friend/business acquaintance to introduce you to the people you want to meet at the event.
- Have brief conversations with those you meet at a meeting. Collect business cards and follow up by phone/email to arrange time to further pursue your mutual business interests.
- If you’re a little intimidated by large groups, try attending some of the business meetings which feature icebreakers or “speed networking.” Try some of the smaller special interest groups or start by connecting with people on LinkedIn.
By adopting some of these strategies, I think you’ll feel more confident and derive more benefit from your networking.
For more information or to purchase your copy of Judi’s CD “The Power of Networking,” please call (312) 285-2000 or email us.
