Nuances of Networking - do you Know How?

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Networking and The Law of Reciprocity

The law of reciprocity can basically be summed up by stating the golden rule: do unto others as you would have others do unto you. However, it goes one step further than this. The law states that whatever you do will be returned to you. In other words, if you want to create success for yourself, help someone else become successful.

When it comes to success in your life the law of reciprocity will help you gain unparalleled amounts of success. The more you help others gain what they are looking for the more you will be helped. It may not seem like this is the case on the surface but you cannot give without receiving back.

Begin to search out people who need help in your network. Maybe you know someone who is struggling to be successful and you know someone who can help them become successful. Reciprocate!

Then when you need to ask for help or need a contact, you can leverage others for it. This enables ‘network currencies,’ ideas, contacts, inspiration, clients and many other things to be ‘traded’ in your network.

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Identify Your Stakeholders

The first step in your stakeholder analysis is to brainstorm who your stakeholders are (internally and externally). As part of this, think of all the people who are affected by your work, who have influence or power over it, or have an interest in its successful conclusion. Some of them you may not know personally yet.

E.g. some of the people who might be stakeholders are:

Your boss                                            Shareholders                                     Government

Senior executives                            Alliance partners                      Trade associations

Your peers at work                          Suppliers                                             The press

Your team                                     Interest Groups                                     Academics

Customers                                          Analysts                                               The public

Prospective customers                  Future recruits                                  Community

Your family                                         Your partner/spouse                      Your friends

Groups you do not attend          Ideal Customers (to be)      Readers and Followers

Recent research recommends building three types of networks

Operational – People you need to accomplish your assigned, routine task.

1. Personal – Kindred spirits inside and outside your organization who can help you with personal advancement.
2. Strategic – People outside your control who will enable you to reach key objectives (e.g. senior team, clients).

Key stakeholders are: (list – internal and external)

OPERATIONAL

Top Tips to Maintain Your Professional Network

Speak – Take every opportunity to speak in your network. This means everything from talking about what you do with the person in the lift to making presentations to large groups. People with whom your message resonates will connect with you and quickly become a part of your network.

Participate – Join internal groups and external professional organizations. It is better to belong to fewer organizations and take an active role in them than to belong to many organizations with superficial connections to the membership. Truly participating allows you to really get to know people and thereby supports your desire to build professional relationships with them.

Publish – Writing in-house and external articles and e-articles is a great way to communicate your passion. Take some time to write a few articles related to your goals/interest that will provide value to the readers. Identify your ideal publications and take a look at all the e-zines that accept article submissions. Readers of your articles will seek you out and become part of your network.

Volunteer – Volunteering is a great way to build professional relationships while giving back to the community. Take a volunteer position that allows you to use your skills and express your passion. Your network will grow along with your sense of accomplishment.

Connect – To be truly successful at networking, you need to be continuously making new connections while at the same time nurturing the relationships you have. Remember, if you take the attitude that it is about you, you will be less successful in retaining your network. But if you treat your network as a group of people you serve and support, your experience will be much more positive and you will attract what you need to be successful.

Express – Express thanks, congratulations and fond wishes. Remember to send birthday cards, thank you cards, etc. This is a great way to show the members of your network you care while keeping regular dialog with them.

Update – Every time there is a change to your organization, your work status or your contact details, broadcast it. Use these life changes as opportunities to remind your network that you are there.

Telephone – Mass media like e-mail are great for consistent communication. But enduring business relationships require much more. One way to stay in touch and build stronger bonds with your network is to commit to at least one call a week. These are the people you selected, you should enjoy them. So take the 15 minutes to half an hour it takes each week to keep the network alive.

 Socialize – A great way to build and nurture your network and help people build theirs is to host an event. This can be random event at your office, house or other location, or a recurring event at a chosen meeting place. This will provide an informal way to get together and connect the members of your network with each other.

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