Posts Tagged ‘networking skills’
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 40
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “Your Relationships-Six Stages-Acquaintances: People that you run into because of who you are and what you do. They have something in common with you.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
I think of the virtual teams I am a member of. It is amazing to me how a common goal can bring together dedicated people. We work so well together. I wonder is this because we are virtual? Does being online allow us to be ourselves? Does it allow us to be more forgiving? Could it be the label “acquaintances” comes with a set of parameters? I suppose our expectations for our relationships with acquaintances is different from our expectations of “accidental” relationships or friends or family. I wonder how our relationships or networking would differ if our expectations of the relationships would redefined.
Accidental Relationships…
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 39
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “Develop your relationships-Six Stages-Accidents: You are thrown together for some period of time. So you talk to each other.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
In the media I hear over and over “I am one of those people who believes everything happens for a reason.” I ponder this. Is that true? Is there REALLY a reason for everything? I contemplate all the “accidental” relationships I have had. I think about the co-workers I have worked with for the handful of jobs for which I have been employed. Whatever happened to all the customers I worked with?
I remember the time I worked at an art store. A large man of an ethnicity and economic status very different from my own walked in a slow lumbering heavy footed step into the store. I smiled warmly. I asked him how he was doing. He spoke haltingly each word a stutter. I walked with him around the store showing him the different supplies he requested. He thanked me for my patience as he left. Now, I ask you, what was the “reason” for that exchange? To me it was a moment in time. A clerk helping a customer. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Although, I wonder what happened to him? Has he passed away? Is his art work fetching millions of dollars?
Manipulation, what is it?
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 36
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “Manipulation = when you connive to get something for yourself through misdirection, subterfuge or telling only part of the truth.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
Many people operate this way. I wonder, do they know they are doing it? When they get what they want, do they feel good about themselves?
Be all-end all of networking
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 33
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “When people think of networking as TAKING or TRADING, what they get is Single-Sale Networking. Though Single-Sale Networking may result in instant gratification, it’s time consuming, and you miss out on the long-term benefits”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
I just had an “Ah ha” moment. I really thought taking and trading were the be all end all of networking. This is why I shy away from networking. I do not want to be in a room full of people who are only there to get their product sold. I do not want to engage in exchanges where I know the only reason the other person is accepting my product is because they want to push their product. I like this new definition of networking. Networking interactions are investments in longer term relationships. Each person sees value in reciprocity. This type of networking I can embrace.
My Style…
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 25
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “My style ‘If you like to keep a lot of balls in the air,’ it will feel natural to you to collaborate, to give first and give generously, and to learn networking skills and systems so that you feel more comfortable. It will be a challenge for you to stick to your goals, to ask for what you want or need, to tell success stories, to hold up your end of the conversation, and to take your 50 percent of the ‘air time’.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
Now this describes me precisely. This quote encompasses my positive attributes and my challenges. Having this quote sums me up neatly. Now I have a reference. I will be able to focus on the new methods that specifically address my weaknesses. I will be able to use it as a measuring stick to note my progress.
Definition of shy…
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 22
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “Philip Zimbardo, who founded the Clinic, found that shy people are less popular, find fewer friends, exhibit lower self-esteem, make less money, say their lives are boring, demonstrate fewer leadership skills, are more likely to be depressed, have less social support and are more likely to be lonely.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
Really? I frequently tell people I am shy. This quote puts a whole new spin on things. I would not define or label myself with over half the characteristics listed here. According to this quote I am not shy. When it comes to networking, I feel so insecure. Perhaps it is not shyness I experience, rather timidness or that I am reserved. I am afraid to reach out for fear of “making a mistake.” I think “Make Your Contacts Count” will give me the tools I need to overcome my timidness. I am definitely not shy by this definition.
Networking that works…
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 21
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “Give without strings, without expectations of getting-that is the way to create a network that works.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
I stumble on this quote. I think I understand what she is saying. She is saying if you go to a networking event where the only reason you would give is so you will get in return. What makes me grapple with this quote is I am the type of person that always gives without expectation. At what point do I cut my losses because I am giving more than I receive? I struggle with finding balance on this theory.
Network Before You Have To…
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 19
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “Absolutely the worst time to begin networking is when you need to-after you decide to changed jobs or lose your job.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
I can see how this would be true. If people sense you are desperate they are wary that you are networking for one purpose. Once you reach your goal-obtaining a job-you will move on. Then people feel used. You got what you wanted and did not stay to help others. However, when you network before you need the job you get the opportunity to showcase your skills, invest in the group by helping others and you prove yourself.
Evaluating the definition of Networking
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 17
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “Networking is the deliberate process of exchanging information, resources, support, and access in such a way as to create mutually beneficial relationships for personal and professional success.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking:
I like starting with a definition because all too often I march into a situation thinking I know what I am doing only later to find out I could have had more positive results if I had understood the definition. For example, marketing. I thought marketing was making a logo, buying some advertising and calling it a day. I have since learned “marketing is telling people what you do over and over.” (I learned that from C.J. Hayden’s book Get Clients Now)
So networking to me is a time when I have to listen to one sales pitch after another. I think of a networking event as a chance to see a new product, learn about a new book in a presentation format. In other words, I am in the audience and I am watching a demonstration.
I never thought of networking as a deliberate process. I never thought of networking as a support group. Now, I am intrigued to learn more about what networking really encompasses.
Oh Geez..My networking skills are less then desireable
Who recommended: Lynne Waymon
What I am reading: Make Your Contacts Count (Networking Know-How For Business and Career Success) by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Where in the book: page 15
Why I am reading: Learning how to network. Cause believe me, I have no CLUE!
Which quote: “If you find that you were stymied by a majority of the statements, you may decide to start at the beginning of this book and read straight through to the end.”
How this quote adjusted my thinking: I will read the book from cover to cover instead of jumping from chapter to chapter. I completed all the assessments in Chapter 1 and my networking skills are below average. “Being Strategic” and “Observing Netiquette” are the areas where I need the most improvement. Almost every answer of mine was in the 20% – rarely range.
Let us see…
When “Observing Netiquette”
I rarely discover reasons to hand out my business card.
I rarely figure out a way to give my business card. However, I frequently figure out a way to get someone’s business card.
Sometimes I am able to sense when I can talk about what I can offer.
Rarely am I comfortable joining a group of people who are already talking.
I always consciously work at talking only about 50% of the time.
I frequently find interesting ways to say thank you when someone gives me a resource or referral.
If a contact doe not reciprocate, I rarely am able to skillfully and tactfully point out how she can help me.
When “Being Strategic”
I rarely have a strategic plan for my networking efforts in each organization I belong to.
Sometimes I will join an organization because of my strategic business/career development plan.
(Now this assessment questions was a real eye opener. I do not even have a business plan – never mind it being strategic or developmental.)
Frequently before I attend an event, I will think of specific resources/tips/trends I have to offer people I will see there.
Rarely do I initiate a networking meeting.
Rarely do I let people know the types of problems I can solve, so they refer exactly the right kinds of opportunities to me.
Rarely am I comfortable telling my contacts what I want or need.
Looks like I have some goals established for myself!
Lara Nieberding 