The Awkward Person's Guide to Networking & Bringing Compassion to Leadership

THINKING YELLOW

Yellow is creative from a mental aspect, the colour of new ideas, helps us to find new ways of doing things. It is the practical thinker, not the dreamer. It is the best colour to create enthusiasm for life and can awaken greater confidence and optimism.

__________________________________________

"Networking is often transactional and this type?of interaction is unnatural for most — but especially for those of us who feel awkward or shy to begin with.?Maybe you take a bit longer to open up to people. Maybe your mind goes blank when you’re trying to make a good impression. Or maybe you feel the need to overcompensate for your nerves with false enthusiasm.?How can you reconcile the fact that you?should?be networking with your equally strong desire to avoid the discomfort of it all?" Alyssa F. Westring

Start by reframing how you think about it. Try thinking of it as a genuine opportunity to make a meaningful connection, rather than a phony, opportunistic interaction. Consider what you have to offer in a situation, not just what you want to take.

Don’t try to hide who you are. Be honest — even if that means openly expressing discomfort with the whole networking thing.

For more, head to Alyssa Westring's article - The Awkward Person's Guide to Networking

__________________________________________________________________________

THE STONECUTTERS BLOCK

When nothing seems to help, I go and look at stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 100 & First blow, it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.” Jacob Riis

______________________________________________

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way."?–?John C. Maxwell

To be compassionate when that’s not the norm, you need to lead by example. Your behaviour sets the bar.

People notice how you change your position when you receive new information, how you deal with pressure, and whether you’re going to bat for them. Do your best to show up for your team, even when that means going against the grain. Even as you try to treat everyone with kindness and interest, you’ll have to make choices about where to invest your time and energy. Otherwise, you’re heading right into burnout territory.

So choose your priorities carefully and try not to overpromise.

Finally, continue delivering business results. The more you do that, the more organizational credibility you'll develop, and you’ll need that clout to advocate for your team and their interests.

_________________________________________________________________________

QUESTION TIME

Questioning techniques are important because they can stimulate learning, develop the potential to think, drive clear ideas, stir the imagination, and incentive to act.

___________________________________

1. Who is the best leader you've ever worked with? What was it about their leadership style?