Connect Better in 2018

As an entrepreneur in the staffing and recruiting industry, I meet and advise professionals that are in transition (or just looking for a better opportunity) on a highly regular basis. I enjoy helping others and helping to connect folks in my network. As a volunteer Board member with APICS Atlanta, I bet I've shared a phone call or cup of coffee with hundreds of professionals in transition over the last decade. Our firm, TalentStream, is proud to sponsor and facilitate the Chapter's Job Board (check it out - - FREE to post a Supply Chain-related job).

What have I learned from all of these experiences? What are some of the simple, best practices that "Great Connectors" have in common, whether they are seeking a new position or growing their sales or leading new projects? When you are asking for time from busy professionals - - how can you make it easier for them to give it to you? I'll offer some of my best practices below and I'd welcome yours in the comments.

Note: let's call the object of your outreach "targets", for the sake of clarity and consistency.

1. If you'd like for your target to give you a call, make sure to include your phone number in your email or email signature. On a regular basis, I've seen network colleagues send out a quick email asking for a phone call - - but their phone number is not contained within the email! You must make it easier than that. Make sure your phone number is included in all of your email signatures: your full blown version that you may use with your laptop AND the smaller version that you may use with your smart phone. The "auto dial hyperlink" feature that many smart phones offer when a phone number is listed within a message is a wonderful, efficient convenience.
2. Want to meet in person with your target? Asking for an hour of time? It's best to include specific timeframes in your communication, preferably in bullet points (yes, I'm an admitted bullet point addict). There are also a variety of tools that help with scheduling, such as the Atlanta-based Calendy.
3. Have you identified a specific timeframe with your target? Send a calendar or Outlook invite. For many folks (and certainly for me), if it's not on my Outlook calendar, it certainly is not on my mind. Be sure to send an Outlook invite with the meeting location or conference call details - - and your phone number!
4. Attempting to schedule a group meeting or phone call with 7 (or 17!) different schedules to consider? Consider using a tool such as Doodle - - I've found tools like this make group coordination much, much easier. And it allows all voices to be heard equally.
5. If you'd like for your target to make an introduction for you, I'd strongly recommend that you compile the language for them - - where they can cut & paste into an email or social media message and forward it to the right person. Through the years, I've been asked to introduce & connect many network colleagues - - and the introductions that must start from scratch are the last ones that happen! Again, the easier you can make the target's action, the more likely that they'll deliver on what you are asking them to do. In the modern business climate of hundreds of emails & social media notifications a day, this is a critical but simple thought to keep in mind.
6. Finally, everyone is busy. I lose sight of this simple truth all the time when my own communications are not responded to. If your email or Inmail or text or smoke signal does not elicit a response (or the response you were hoping for), don't go negative and make the wrong assumptions. You never know what your target may be fighting through at the exact moment that you reached out. Practice PTK: patience, tolerance and kindness. Even when you don't feel like it!

I hope these straightforward and simple best practices might help you be connect more successfully in 2018. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your families.