Tips For Effective Networking



In my opinion, networking should be mandatory of all positions within a company.  I'm not saying it's easy for everyone to do it.  It certainly can induce panic for even the mildest case of agoraphobia*.  However, this is no excuse if you want to get ahead in your career, or change careers.  With everything else in life, practice makes perfect. 

Definition of NETWORKING:  1: the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business

See...by definition, networking plays an important "productive" part in our job roles. Cultivating these relationships should not be seen as scary but necessary on our road to success. 

Opportunities to network can be everywhere:  On an airplane; at your kids ballet, baseball, gymnastics, soccer practice, at a party, on the bus, at the hair salon, ...you get my point... you never know when you could meet your next client or future boss!

This article suggests a few basic tips to help get you feeling comfortable networking in no time:

How to Network Effectively - eHow.com

I am, by nature, a social person and would say that I have a high level of comfort talking to strangers in the settings I mention above.  A work related networking event - an event specifically meant to encourage networking among professionals - for some reason, can induce an elevated feeling of anxiety even for me.   I tend to do what is easy/comfortable - attach myself to someone I already know in the hopes that they will introduce me to new people.  This is ineffective most of the time because I will typically end up in a small group of people that I already know, who are also hoping that the others will make the introductions! 

So I have a rule that I adhere to before I allow myself to hook on to someone that I already know.  I introduce myself to three people - sometimes, by the nature of the event/meeting, it's obvious who I need to approach, but most of the time it's just random selection.  If, at the end of the evening, I have three new contacts, I feel a certain level of success.  Once I've reached my goal of three contacts, one of two things will usually happen - 1) I start to relax and realize it's not that bad and everyone else in the room is doing it too. or 2) the event hasn't cultivated the kind of contacts I'm looking for and head straight to the valet stand to get my car and go home.

How about you?  What tips to you have for effective networking?  I'd like to hear!

*agoraphobia - fear of embarrassment