NETWORKING
Hello again, I am here to update you about the skill I acquired from the latest GemMine soft skill session which is the act of networking.
It is a skill I am willing to keep because the one-time application of this skill led me to know more about a fellow soft skills student, Emmanuel Olowokere by name whom is a greatly-skilled writer on medium and whom I also happens to share a common goal with. I realized that Networking really is a science that needs to be practiced. By taking a few calculated social risks one would be rewarded with some amazing new relationships.
What is networking?
Networking is the action or process of interacting with others to exchange info and develop professional or social contacts.
Networking is usually believed to be used by professionals to widen their circles and increase job opportunities. Not so?
This is so. Professionals network to find out about job opportunities and increase their awareness of news and trends in their field. Imagine a professional person who doesn’t know other people of the same profession, they are not current on the trends in the field and so their prices may be lower or even higher than that of others in the same field. But, networking is not only for professionals in fact we have different types of networking which we are coming to.
WHY SHOULD I NETWORK?
- To increase your chances of being successful in your career.
- To be more valuable. We all, like computers network need each other.
- New opportunities. Someone who motivates you and you would like to know more? an ‘Hey, I really appreciate to do this and that and I would love to connect with you’ could actually be the magic word you need to say for your wish to come to pass.
FORMS OF NETWORKING
Real life networking: This could be through any physical means. (in the church or club or e.t.c)
Online networking: This is the easiest form of networking in my point of view I mean you could chat them up without having to go through the stress of the physical means (that is if you’re an introverted person)which could be done through any social media(LinkedIn, Twitter, MeetUp, Facebook e.t.c)
TYPES OF NETWORKING
Like I said, networking is not meant for professional alone. There are different types of networking which include:
Business networking: People network with people to increase their job prospects and to access valuable information about their business that cannot be readily available.
Social networking: people network to makes new friends, party, fashion, music, sex e.t.c
Career networking: although some people’s careers is also their business, but this is not always the case. People network to increase their success chances in their career.
How to network?
- Be your best self: Don’t fake being an extrovert, be confident and be your best self( your ‘self’ without the ‘best’ part might not be presentable enough)
- Learn: Observe people, their name tags and identify common interests and what you can give them. Remember life itself is ‘give and take’.
- Networking is a goal: Be intentional about networking, have a plan on who to network with and how to go about it.
- Art of business cards: give out business cards to people you’d like to get back to.
- Remembering names: You know you feel more comfortable with people who remember your name even after meeting you just once. To remember the names, you could attribute it to something. It’s a trick that always work. But if you forget their names simply request in a warm way, “Please remind me your name”.
- Nice impression: The first five minutes should make a lasting impression. Remember to also keep quiet and learn more in order not to make the wrong impression.
- Follow up: This is the most important part. Have conversions with them at least three times in a month. Make sure you keep in touch with them, like their pictures on social media and make nice comments.
HELPING YOUR NETWORK
One of the ways to gain value from people is by giving them value, like I said life itself is give and take.
The more people you help, the more help you’ll receive.
When you’re speaking with people make sure you’re answering the following questions:
- What motivates them?
- What is important to them?
- What energizes them?
- What do they love to talk about?
TIPS
- Become a mentor/mentee.
- Attend networking events whether physical or online
Always remember that networking is a science that needs to be practiced (more often). Thanks for reading.
