How can you help your employees improve their networking skills?

My best colleagues and bosses were the ones that encouraged curiosity in the workplace and in other sports/industries. Encouraging curiosity increases what your employees can learn and is especially important for interns. Doing this also promotes a more innovative workplace, providing more opportunities for everyone to have ideas and bring them to your business.

Teach them how to listen. Many people go networking to sell their own product/service and forget to listen to other people. Learn about all the other people in the networking group, wheter or not they are your target audience - they may not be your target audience, but they will know someone who is.

To enhance networking skills, encourage employees to be genuinely curious about others. This includes understanding people's backgrounds, goals, challenges, and interests. Curiosity leads to authentic conversations and meaningful connections. Foster this among employees by having them research contacts, prepare open-ended questions, and practice active listening. Cultivate a culture of curiosity by sharing personal networking stories, hosting guest speakers, and organizing team activities that promote engagement and inquiry.

La mejor manera de fomentar la curiosidad es dotar a tu equipo de la autonomía suficiente para que tome decisiones y se equivoque. Que te estén preguntando cada vez que hago no es eficiente ni escalable.

Curiosity is the starting place for any productive team dynamic. Asking the right questions to the right people and seeking to know and gain knowledge of things others think are quite obvious becomes the basis for disruptive thinking.

Certainly, providing opportunities for employees to network within the sports industry is crucial for skill development. Host or attend events like conferences, workshops, seminars, webinars, or social gatherings to expose them to diverse professionals. Facilitate introductions, referrals, or collaborations with other organizations, partners, or clients. Encourage participation in online communities, forums, groups, or podcasts, where they can share insights and opinions. Creating avenues for these interactions not only enhances networking skills but also expands their professional connections and fosters a broader understanding of the sports industry landscape.

"Practice" seems obvious, but it's true of any skill - the more you get to do it, the easier it becomes. Networking is no different - try a few, find the one you like, run it in deep.

One thing I have seen work well, especially for less seasoned employees, is to attend events that are not deemed “network events” with a more seasoned co-worker (not saying age necessarily) who has been in the industry longer and knows people at the event. This provides a much easier environment for the junior team member to meet people through personal introductions which often lead to less intimidating environments. Obviously this is not always possible but if you have partners that host all-star games, conferences tournaments, conference championships etc. I think those are great opportunities for that kind of networking.

Employers can promote networking by providing opportunities for their employees to attend industry events, conferences, and other professional gatherings. This can help employees meet new people and expand their professional network, which can also benefit the company.

Que tu equipo te acompa?e a ponencias, eventos o cubra parte de los gastos de formación continua es fundamental para estar rodeado de los mejores. Realizar una mesa redonda, escuchar opiniones y hacer partícipes a todos hará que todos se sientan parte del proyecto.

Algunas ideas de cómo ayudarles: - Mentoring y Coaching específico - Realización de role plays y feedback - Formación en comunicación - Fomentar interim networking jornadas - Formación en LinkedIn y feedback

Folks always miss out on the menu - the basic etiquette of networking is that you don't go to networking events to ask for jobs and do direct selling of your product/service. The best way to inculcate the habit of active networking is providing guidance on why is it important to meet and connect with new people and existing people in your industry. Create curiosity about learning other company's goals, challenges, way of working and culture in the organisation. This habit helps the employee to get out of his shell, break the ice and have a meaningful conversation by asking open-ended questions and also sharing their experiences. This will assist the employees in fostering long-term connections for personal and professional growth.

Certainly, teaching basic networking etiquette is crucial for enhancing employees' networking skills. Offer training, coaching, or mentoring sessions to demonstrate best practices, review common scenarios, and provide constructive criticism. Set clear expectations, give recognition, and model the desired networking behavior. Teaching proper introduction methods, follow-up approaches, feedback exchange, and relationship maintenance equips employees with the essential social skills needed for successful networking in the sports industry. This knowledge contributes to their professional growth and effectiveness in building meaningful connections.

Enhancing networking skills also involves teaching employees the basics of networking etiquette. This includes proper introductions, follow-up techniques, giving and receiving feedback, and maintaining relationships. Implement training, coaching, or mentoring sessions to demonstrate best practices, discuss common scenarios, and provide constructive feedback. Establish clear expectations, recognize good networking practices, and lead by example to instill these essential skills, ensuring your employees navigate networking opportunities professionally and effectively.

El valor debe ser el elemento fundamental para generar puentes y conexiones donde el fair play sea pieza fundamental en todos los sectores del servicio.

Value can be regarded as an asset or commodity which is built on trust. I encourage mentees, my colleagues , young career professionals to develop themselves , hone technical and personal skills to build a sense of self worth and value. You exchange that value when you actively engage and network with others whether thats in the office, in the community, etc. You can share your experience, be a team player, lend support on projects, be an advocate. There are many ways to promote value and by doing so, you not only help others you also build up that social currency of trust and credibility in your network.

Algunas ideas para promover el valor: - Desarrollo de Habilidades Personalizadas - Programas de Mentoring Internos y Externos - Fomentar la Colaboración o Alianzas en Proyectos Transversales - Sesiones de Intercambio de Conocimientos o plataforma que lo permita, con un tutor - Incentivar Voluntariado - Fomentar la creación de contenidos por los colaboradores en redes como LinkedIn, por ejemplo - Formación sobre la Importancia de la Escucha Activa en el networking - Facilitar Recursos de la Empresa para ello

El mayor valor que una persona puede promover es éL MISMO, darse a conocer con sus fortalezas, sus aficiones, sus ideas, sus dones, habilidades y también sus defectos, no nos olvidemos que todos somos personas y todos tenemos errores y defectos que nos hacen ser nosotros mismos y eso no quiere decir que sea malo.

To further enhance networking skills among employees, emphasize the importance of offering value in interactions. This could be in the form of sharing knowledge, expertise, advice, support, or referrals, making networking mutually beneficial. Encourage employees to identify and leverage their strengths, skills, and passions to assist others. Foster a culture where seeking feedback, continuous learning, and sharing personal achievements are valued. This approach not only enriches networking experiences but also contributes to building sustainable and productive professional relationships.

Absolutely, promoting the concept of value is essential for effective networking. Encourage employees to identify their strengths, skills, and passions, and how they can contribute value to others. Emphasize the importance of offering knowledge, expertise, advice, support, or referrals to make networking mutually beneficial and sustainable. Encouraging a culture of seeking feedback, continuous learning, and sharing achievements reinforces the idea of providing value in professional interactions. This approach not only enhances networking skills but also fosters positive and reciprocal relationships within the sports industry.

Inclusión es también diversidad y accesibilidad. promueve un entorno de trabajo inclusivo y participativo, donde todo el mundo cuenta.

When I was in Graduate school, I was tasked to send holiday cards to colleagues and peers of my Superiors. The world of College Athletics is SMALL; dense, but small. After meeting a few different professionals across the year, sending holiday cards with best wishes and genuinity created a bridge with said individual. This person transitioned from a “professional figure” to a colleague and future mentor by simply sending a card…. Networking is more than professional interaction. It’s a foundational piece of professional development, of growth and evolution. Communication within your space and OUTSIDE of it allows you to extend your foundation. Challenge your team-members and mentees to simply say HELLO to people and watch them grow.

Encouraging people to be what they are and get to know about different kind of people widens own perspective of life. This helps you to find new ways to do your work or handle your daily work tasks.

La diversidad amplía las posibilidades de crecimiento y hace que tus servicios sean más versátiles e integrales. La diversidad es una forma de estar en continuo aprendizaje y formación continua para comprender, respetar y aceptar todas las tipologías de personas que colaboran en un mismo proyecto.

Absolutely, supporting diversity is a crucial aspect of improving networking skills. Encourage employees to reach out to individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences. A diverse network brings a wealth of ideas, opportunities, and challenges. Foster a diverse and inclusive work environment where employees feel respected and valued. Additionally, expose employees to different sports, markets, and trends to broaden their understanding and connections within the sports industry. Embracing diversity not only enhances networking skills but also contributes to a more inclusive and innovative professional landscape.

Cada cliente conseguido por tu equipo o peque?o logro debe ser celebrado, ya sea en menor o mayor medida. No solo es importante resaltar lo negativo o lo que no salió tan bien, sino también ensalzar esas peque?as victorias, que nos impulsarán a todos un poco más lejos.

Lo que no se mide no mejora, lo que no mejora se degrada. La clave es completar seguimiento de sus acciones y comprobar el resultado de éstas, así como una vez evaluado, ajustar para mejorar y volver a accionar. Si además los tutores son productivos y tienen una gran relevancia en el networking, sus recomendaciones y ayuda pueden ser la llave hacia el éxito. En definitiva es la mejor forma, objetivamente, de saber si te encuentras en el camino adecuado, y que puedan tener un reconocimiento en base a ese objetivo alcanzado.

Esta es clave. Hay que medir el resultado, a través del desarrollo, de la mejora, de su progreso, y del objetivo marcado. Una buena reunión face to face con tu compa?ero para que juntos analiceis todo

A key aspect of enhancing networking skills is monitoring progress. This involves tracking and evaluating employees' networking activities, outcomes, and goals to pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement. Encourage employees to report on their networking efforts, focusing on the number, quality, and frequency of their contacts. Provide feedback, recognize their successes, and address challenges. This approach not only helps in refining their networking strategies but also motivates them to continually improve and expand their professional network.

This comment links diversity with monitoring progress... There are times when the future positive results from networking take either a bit of time to develop, or the journey to success bounces from one contact in one organisation to another from a completely different area. This progress aspect needs to be encouraged and explored. The results can become quite rich and rewarding on several fronts.

Never just barge into a conversation and start selling yourself. It is a real off- putter. Instead, realise that most people much prefer to speak about themselves. Admit it- you do too. Most people are most comfortable when they can talk about themselves. So, give them the chance to do so. Ask them about themselves. What do they do? What brings them here? What is their business? Be interested in them and what they do. Ask follow up questions. Listen carefully to what they say. Probe them for more detail and explore if an opening can be created. What you are trying to do is gain intelligence and information that you could use to adapt your own “pitch” to suit the other person.

Find a networking room they want to be in! Sounds obvious, but everyone has different likes and dislikes, skills and abilities; sitting someone who is high energy in a structured networking meeting with little opportunity to speak is going to be a nightmare for them, just as putting an introvert in a crowded room would be. Find the right environment for your team member to be in and they'll thrive with little other guidance - and they'll bring back like-minded people who should fit right in.

Improving networking skills through active listening is crucial in building meaningful professional relationships. Active listening involves fully concentrating on, understanding, and responding thoughtfully to what others are saying. This approach demonstrates respect and genuine interest, fostering trust and rapport. By actively listening, one can better understand others' needs and perspectives, leading to more effective and empathetic communication.

Personally especially in Sports it is about passion, enthusiasm and "family". As a former athlete I learned that the higher the level the higher the "family behaviour" was from each. They knew, everyone shared the passion, the efforts and that you want to have people around you you get along within the sports time. Therefore always be open minded, try to be outgoing, be true, be humble and encourage people to cheer and support each other while not missing the needed respect.

A parte mais difícil do networking é cultural. No Brasil, muitas empresas ainda acreditam que a intera??o entre seus funcionários pode atrapalhar o desempenho. Ainda vivemos em um mundo de “chefes” e n?o de gestores, profissionais que tragam humanidade ao ambiente de trabalho. Qualquer profissional precisa ser incentivado a trocar experiências, sejam pessoais ou profissionais. é assim que criamos la?os, descobrimos sinergias e aproximamos as pessoas. Uma pessoa feliz e que se importa com o outro terá muito mais interesse em aprender junto, de trocar conhecimentos e se preocupar em “vestir a camisa” da empresa, do ambiente ao qual está inserido. Mudan?a cultural da empresa é o primeiro passo pro sucesso dos relacionamentos.