Networking
Written by Clifford Sax
People seem to see networking as cliched but there are instances of useful and effective networking exhibited daily.
Take for example
ailing football teams, of which my local team is one. By reaching out
to supporters through their website and the local paper, they have not
only managed to pay the players for the last 3 months but they have
seen attendances soar, as people have been promoting their cause to
other locals by word of mouth. This clearly shows that the more
effectively you make use of the people around you, the more successful
you will be.
There are some simple rules to follow if you wish to expand and make the most of your network:
Make
use of every social interaction you have. If you are working in
construction recruitment and you happen to be talking to a project
manager who is looking for a job at the moment, make sure explore every
avenue of the conversation without seeming
pushy. For example, ask them:
Where were you working last?
What was it like working there?
Were there any problems?
Who is taking over from you?
Ask
open questions (e.g when, where how why)and don't rush things; if you
know that you will be speaking to them again. The conversation should
flow naturally, make sure you listen and gently guide the proceedings
in a mutually beneficial manner. This will ensure that the individual
will be happy to speak to you again. LISTEN.
Just as with all
relationships, a network will shrivel and die if it is not tended to.
Keep a list of important people in you network and set specific times
that you will call them to keep in touch.
The more relevant people
you speak to the more you will learn about your chosen area. You may
have a 10 minute conversation that will not prove fruitful until the
end of the call or even in a months time.