Networking Article from Networking Today Canada, Nat'l
Recent Articles from Cities Across Canada
Networking Know Who
Have you ever written down the names of all the people in your network?
In another life, I considered selling insurance. When New York Life interviewed me, they asked lots of questions like, "If you had a choice on Saturday night of going to a party or staying home to read a book, which would you choose?" They wanted to know if I was a social, outgoing person. NYL also wanted to know if I had a large network. Apparently the more people I knew, the fewer cold calls I'd be making. They gave me a list of categories such as People At Work, People At School, or People in The Neighborhood. I was then asked to list all the people I knew in each category.
No matter what your career direction, complete the same exercise.
- Either on an Excel spreadsheet or legal pad, make categories such as people known from: work, school, neighborhood, through spouse, through family, through children, associations, family members, sports, activities, hobbies, church/synagogue, etc. Don't forget to list your doctor, dentist, plumber and accountant. Your Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter contacts count, too. Well, some of them count.
- List all the people you know and who know you under each heading.
- If you know that Julia Roberts or Barak Obama has the same hobby as you, don't list her or him unless you really know them.
- Realize how many people are actually in your network. Add them up.
- Re-contact your network on a regular basis. Call, send a note, card, letter, or e-mail. Don't ask for anything on the first re-contact. Just show interest in catching up on their lives. It's never too late for you to connect with an old or new contact.
- Prioritize your network list into A's, B's and C's. Set an action step with the A's. Keep in touch with B's so they become A's. Keep in touch with C's in a general way such as a large bulk mailing.
- Expand your list in each area. Keep your contact spreadsheet up to date. Keep in touch often.
- Track the results of your Know Who list.
When New York Life saw how easily I came up with two hundred names, they offered me a corner office. Even though I decided not to sell insurance, my confidence rose knowing I knew so many people. I contacted all of them to find out what they were up to. Then I let them know what I was doing and inquired as to how I could be helpful to them. This led to interviews, renewed friendships, referrals and money. Your Know Who list is like gold.
________________________________________
Karen Susman is a Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and Author of 102 Top Dog Networking Secrets. Karen works with organizations that want to maximize performance. Programs include Humour at Work; Balance In Life; Networking Skills; Presentation Skills; and Building Community Involvement. Order new guidebooks on humour, networking, time management, and community involvement by calling 1.888.678.8818 or email Karen@KarenSusman.com. www.KarenSusman.com
Search Articles
More Articles
How to Get Started in Mentoring - Follow these tips to establish a successful mentoring relationship
