Socializing outside office is an important part of one's career development strategy. Men have always created these opportunities through that "Game of Golf " with the boss, the catching up over "beer on a Sunday afternoon" or the officially sponsored ‘off-sites'. However, for working women who may also be mothers or care givers, these socializing opportunities seem like a waste of time. All women have probably faced these dilemmas at some stage in their career where they wonder if attending a conference or going for an "Off- site "is really worth their time.
Women need to remember that networking seems to have a cumulative effect. One small introduction may lead you down several paths and create endless possibilities. In today's world the phrase "It's not only what you know, but who you know, that matters" really rings true.
Through networking, women can find others to collaborate with, and collaboration creates relationships with other professionals who can help each other, create and exchange ideas, and develop new opportunities.
How Networking Can Help You
Experts have long stressed the importance of maintaining strong networks. Through networking, we can learn about job opportunities particularly those we wouldn't have had access to otherwise. While networking may eventually lead to job opportunities, there are other ways your career can benefit from it. Your network can prove to be a very useful tool when it comes to other aspects of your career and life. Your contacts can give you advice and provide vital information. You can use your contacts to:
Get recommendations when you are looking for new employees to hire.
Research an area or subject with which you are unfamiliar for a work project.
Get information about a potential employer before you go on an interview.
Get information about a client.
Get information for personal issues like childcare or elder care services, schools, mechanics, just about anything under the sun.
Who Should Be In Your Network
Everyone You Know is a Potential Member of Your Network Your network can be made up of almost anyone you've ever met. Of course, not everyone is part of your active network, but each person can be welcomed into your network at some point. In turn, each person in your network has the potential of leading you to other contacts who may then become part of your network.
Current and Former Co-Workers: Those you currently work with as well as those you've worked with in the past can be part of your network. Stay connected with coworkers. Social networking makes it so much easier to remember important dates and events and stay connected.
Professional Associations: Join clubs and committees at work and become an active member. This gives your colleagues an opportunity to see you in action.
Friends and Family: You never know who in your circle of friends and family may be able to refer you to someone or may need your help, so stay connected.
Former Professors and Instructors: Your former professors and instructors are specialists of your field. Staying in touch with them keeps you abreast of the developments in your industry.
Former Classmates: The alumni directory of your college and school can provide you with contacts to add to your network.
How to make the best of Networks
Be Willing to Ask for Help In order to get help you have to ask for it. If you need advice call someone in your network. Women specially feel very hesitant to ask people for help. Remember most people (including you) like to help others.
Be Willing to Give Help Your network doesn't exist only for your benefit. You should be willing to offer your help to others as well. So, if someone in your network asks you to speak to his/ her nephew about your job, you must be willing to do it. If you hear news that someone in your network can benefit from you, take the time to share it
Keep in Touch With Your Network Contacts Check in with your contacts every now and then. Find out what they're up to and let them know what is happening with your career. It will be much easier to track someone down after not talking to them for a couple of months than it will be after being out of touch for a year or longer. It is also easier to ask someone for help with whom you have been in touch.
Thank Your Contacts for Their Help When one of your contacts gives you advice or provides you with a job lead don't forget to send him/ her a thank you email.
Networking Must be Reciprocal Never attend a social or business event with the idea that it is all about you; it is not. Networking is about relationship building not making sales pitches where you force others to listen to you about yourself. This is also true with social and professional networking through the Internet. When building networks, you must give something back. And, to sustain good personal and business relationships both parties must benefit in some way.
The Two Most Important Networking Skills
The two most important networking skills you can develop are listening and asking questions. Listening validates the value of others and shows respect; while asking thoughtful questions shows sincerity and builds trust because it actively shows an interest in someone's opinions and thoughts.
Networking- Listening Skills Tips: A good listener actively pays attention to the conversation and responds appropriately with questions. One of the most unappreciated networking skills that you can easily master is the ability to listen. To get people excited about you and your business you need to do more listening and less talking.
Asking the Right Questions: Asking questions is an art. Ask the wrong questions and you can easily offend someone. But the reverse is also true; asking the right questions can build trust by opening lines of safe communication. Keep questions positive and focused.
You can use networking opportunities for- getting ahead at work, getting leads for new jobs, gaining visibility in one's industry or just making new friends.
And if you are a busy mother with very little time to spare, there are several options to supplement low ‘facetime' with virtual visibility. You can become active on company blogs or intranets, participate in events virtually via webinars; stay in touch with old colleagues and managers via professional networking websites like LinkedIn etc.
In addition, structured socializing opportunities like company off-sites and industry events offer the opportunity to plan and allocate time for these important activities well in advance, without spending money or compromising on family time.
If you would like to discuss this further or need some help or support in this or any other area, our counsellors would be happy to help.
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