I'm getting ready to go to a networking event, and I'm trying to get excited. Actually, I'm not even getting ready. I'm ready. I'm sitting at a coffeehouse 3 blocks from the event because I got to downtown Chicago early (to beat the traffic) and all I have to do is walk over there. But I'm tired. It's a Thursday. It's been a long week already. I've had a busy day full of ups and downs. Maybe you know the feeling? I don't necessarily want to go meet new people. It would be soooo easy to sit here, grab dinner, and then just go home. My lethargy has nothing to do with the event or the people there. It's going to be great - a … [Read more...]
How to Network for Success in the Second Half of Your Career
Too often, the advice we hear about networking is tailored for meeting new people at networking events and having the perfect "elevator pitch". Sure, that's important, but what if you already have a robust network that you've developed over a successful career? What steps should you take if you want to leverage that network to continue to grow and re-imagine your career? Done right, successful networking for career veterans looks very different than it does for those just entering the workforce. Instead of focusing on building new connections en masse, they need to look at ways to uncover the power of existing relationships and … [Read more...]
The 6 Simple Secrets to Effective Holiday Networking
It's a cruel irony. As the end of the year approaches there are more demands on our time for festivities and celebrations and time with family. There's holiday travel and children off from school who need minding. There are parties to go to and presents to buy. And at the same time we also feel the looming pressure of year-end goals and unfinished plans. How can you balance working and personal fun during the holidays? Why Holiday Networking Rocks If you are building your professional network, it can seem like you have to take the holidays off. It can be much easier to throw our hands up and say, "I'll put my focus on my … [Read more...]
Playing Both Sides of the Ball On Social Media
What does "using" social media mean to you? When I work with professionals on their social media strategies, the most common questions I get tend to be around what people are actually supposed to do with all of the new platforms that have popped up (seemingly overnight). They say things like, "OK, fine, I gave up and got a LinkedIn profile - now do I actually do with it?" Or, "I've had a Twitter account for six months, but I've never tweeted - should I?" Personal Social Media Strategy These are important questions; but they are also hard questions to answer because everyone will and should approach social media in a way that supports … [Read more...]
The Magic Number of Networking Connections
I often get asked about the ideal number of connections you should have in your professional network. The topic often gets muddled because our first impulse is to equate networking success directly with the number of connections we have. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need a huge number contacts to have networking work for you. It’s much more important that you have strong relationships with the people in your network. But if you are really looking for that magic number of connections, here it is: One more than you have now. That’s the key to success. What’s really important isn’t the overall number of connections, but the … [Read more...]
5 Places You Should be Networking this Summer
I don't know about you, but once the thermometer hits 80 degrees the last thing I want to do is put on a suit and go to a networking event. Here in the Midwest, we try to squeeze in as much fun as we can in our seemingly too short summer. But that doesn't mean your networking should slow down in the summer. In fact, it should be hotter then ever; everyone's in great mood and there's a lot more sunshine! You just have to go where the people are. Here are 5 great places to network when the sun is out: 1. Cookouts Whether it's for your neighborhood association, your kid's little league team, or your church picnic, summer cookouts are … [Read more...]
How to Easily Build Your Network with 52 New Networking Partners
Updated January 2020 How would you like to have 52 more referral sources in your network? Not 1, 10, or 25, but 52. It's easier than you might think. And it's very possible to create meaningful business relationships with 52 more people in less than a year. Here’s how you do it. Coffee Conversations Find a new person to have coffee with every week for the next year. It only has to be for 30 or 45 minutes. Simply email them or give them a call and say you’d like to find out more about their business, and how you can help each other. These people can be associates from work that you just "sort of" know, people from an … [Read more...]