New to The Dots and looking for collaborations. What are strategies to build networks?
Replies9
- @Scott Morrison Thanks Scott :)
- @Scott Morrison brilliant! Such great tips x
- Some great input from @Claire Koryczan which is absolute dynamite!I’d add a couple of tips for when you’re in networking situations and need to connect with people.We’ve all been there…small, awkward talk focussed on who you are and what you do.Bring some Boom!Firstly, always ask people a question first that prompts a visceral response. It gets them into emotion mode which is easier to connect with. My go to is ‘what fires you up’ - you’ll usually have a really impactful conversation and get to know them better.Secondly get into active listening mode. Not ‘I can’t wait to speak’ mode. Listen to what they’re saying with a view to how you could create value for them (ideally linked to your work).On a person level, are they an avid reader (recommend a book for them), are they into a certain type of music (send a playlist). At a business level, what is keeping them awake at night (another great question to ask)? How could you help with that? What frustrates them about their current team/boss/agency/supplier. How could you create value (so, if you had a team that you could speak to about x and y and who could action z in a week, that would be valuable?)Finally always offer before you ask. Offer your value to them. Offer a recommendation. Offer something you’ve recorded or written. That way you open up the power of reciprocity - give and the other person is more inclined to give back). Couch everything in terms of ‘value’. You’re investing your value into the relationship and hopefully there’s enough common ground for the other person to invest their value in it too. That could be their time, their knowledge and experience or trust. It could also be their money of course.Stay Boom!S
- @Kevin McSpadden you’re most welcome!
- @Claire Koryczan This is incredibly detailed and I really appreciate the time you took to write this. It's an immensely valuable list to keep as a daily reminder along my journey. :)
- @June Mineyama-Smithson Thanks June! I appreciate the response! I guess it's time to build The Dots into my daily habits :)
- @Claire Koryczan Insightful!
- Hi Kevin, as with any social media, post your work so that other people see the snapshot of you quickly, send connection requests, engage in conversations. Contribute to the community and help people and then it soon will become reciprocal. Good luck!
- Hey Kevin, here are my thoughts:1. Identify your long-term career goal so that your networking activities align with this.2. See networking as giving more than you get and seek to build positive relationships of trust.3. Be clear about your expertise and the value you bring so that you can help others with this and articulate what you do.4. Know which networks you want to connect with (aligned with your long-term goals) and focus on those.5. Map your existing network. You often know more people than you think you do e.g. include friends, relatives, neighbours, members of professional and informal social organisations, current and former clients, current and former colleagues, academic alumni, people you socialise with and online communities like here :)6. Know that the art of communication is just like a good game of catch, where the exchange is mutual, and you are sharing and learning from each other. Be curious and listen well.7. Remember people's names and always follow up.Hope this helps, and good luck!
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