Networking is something that applies to school, friends, job searching, executives, entrepreneurs and business owners. Networking is a very important skill you can develop to achieve success.
Networking can be described as planned word-of-mouth marketing that when done properly will empower individuals and nurture relationships. It is all about making the time to keep in touch with people you know and making the effort to meet people that can help you create opportunities now or in the future and people that you can help. Networks are people talking to one another, sharing ideas, information and resources.
Networking may not seem to relevant to you at first, but if you give it a try ,it will really help you. The more people you know in life, the more chances you will give yourself to succeed.
Act as your own coach and assess your successes to make sure you are advancing toward your goals.
Here are some tips that will help make you a better net worker.
- Your first step in networking is to create a concise, positive message delivered effectively about who you are and what you have to offer others.
- Successful people do not achieve success on their own; instead they surround themselves with a strong support group.
- Successful networking is based on the premise of “givers-gain.” When you give something of value, the value is returned to you multiple-fold.
- It is not the network or end-product that is important in networking, but the process — the connections and the way that they are made — that creates powerful links between people and communities.
- Networking is about farming rather than hunting. It is about developing relationships and establishing trust. Focusing on the relationship will produce greater results than focusing on yourself or your product or service.
- Having a strong personal foundation or good character — integrity, high standards, and reserves — enhances your networking ability.
- Master net workers do not turn their networking skills on and off selectively, instead they live every day, all day with the belief in cooperating with others and helping others achieve success.
- Effective networking requires planning and practice. Place yourself in networking opportunities and plan ahead. Who do you want to meet, who can you help, who can help you, where can you meet them, what do you want to know about them, what do you want them to know about you?
- Develop a diverse network of resources that you can refer to others. This list should include people from other departments, divisions, companies and professions, as well as those you work with directly.
- Networking requires intent, persistence and determination. Make relationships a part of your life, keep an open mind and expect results from unexpected places.
Activities:
Call people you have met or normally see just to keep in touch. You may have played with these people on a sports team , gone to camp together, went to school together , worked a part-time job together. You may be able to help them someway. Just ask them what they have been up to and think of a way to help them or a reason to get together.
Talk to teachers, friends of parents and other adults you know, about your future. You never know what suggestions they may come up with. You may also find something that you can help them with; like a computer problem etc.
Ask people how they keep in touch with old friends, people they went to school with, worked with etc.