Our current economic state presents us with many opportunities – it all depends on how you choose to view it. My focus has always been on the basics; take a moment to look at your foundation with an emphasis on finances. Regardless of where you look, it’s all about relationships: your relationship with your money, bank, employer, family, and friends.
This brings me to the importance of networking and the value of building and maintaining a strong circle of contacts. There is no better time than now to strengthen or build your network. A strong network will serve you well for years to come and will be an additional tool in your toolbox, especially during these uncertain economic times.
Networking includes both internal and external activity. Internally, be visible in your current job, don’t hide in your office or cubicle. Volunteer for projects and be available. Expand your lunch companions. Meet and talk to new coworkers and continue to communicate with them regularly. To be informed; know where your company is going. You may want to consider upskilling or expanding your knowledge, which brings me to external networking. This can also improve your current situation. An easy way to do this is to join a professional organization within your field. Get connected by regularly attending meetings, meeting new people, and benefiting from the information and knowledge presented through seminars and speakers.
Keep in mind that networking is not easy for most and can even be painful.
Advice: To help ease your apprehension, consider arriving early to a meeting when there are fewer people, or invite a colleague to attend with you. Then take your membership to the next level by becoming a board member or chairing a committee. This opens a lot of new doors and looks good on your resume.
Also, consider joining an online professional network like LinkedIn. You can add your professional memberships/organizations to your profile for added visibility. Invite your contacts to join and continue to expand your network with updated information.
final tips– Always exchange contact information or business cards and follow up. Start and maintain a database of contacts in your network that includes their name, email address, phone number, as well as What, whenY where you put with any relevant additional notes to aid both your memory and the memory of your contact. Please continue to add to this database and be sure to keep in touch with any appropriate news or pass on an article of interest.
It’s about relationships. Build them and keep them strong. Working together is much easier than doing it alone.