The New Laws of Networking - Part I
Time to begin your networking education. Disclaimer: this isn’t a "how to get to 500+ connections on LinkedIn" article. From this point forward, we will be talking about your personal networking and personal marketing. The art of the in-person charm is slowly being forgotten and we don't want it to fade away. Today we present six pointers on how to develop your personal image for everyone who knows you at a professional level.
1. Pay attention
Investing time in one thing implies sacrificing time in another. Being at one particular meeting means being unable to do something else that may be more urgent or important. So, if you decide to spend some of your time with one person, be congruent with your decision and pay attention to them. Forget about your phone and be present. Believe us, it feels different when someone is giving you their full attention, and the response will be a lot more positive.
2. Remember personal details:
If Luke, one of your colleagues, told you about his wife’s birthday coming up, he did so because it is important for him. Remember these type of details and ask about them later. "Luke, what did you end up getting your wife for her birthday?" Show your clients, co-workers and customers that you are equally interested in their human side.
3. Face-to-face is always better
Get to know people beyond e-mails and phone calls. Set up in-person meetings with clients, and make the trip to your co-worker's desk. Make sure they see your face. You will accomplish a stronger connection with people if they interact with you personally; they will genuinely care for you because they will know you for your personality and not your username.
4. Don’t forget about your digital-self
An employer once told me ‘Do you know your Facebook account is open for everyone to see?’ He was not a Facebook friend and I got terrified thinking about the embarrassing pictures he might have seen. Be smart about how you communicate through social media; we share a large amount information online and we must be careful when doing so.
5. Be genuine
Gone are the days when you needed to fit a mold to be successful at work. Nowadays, we advise you otherwise: be who you are. Even if that means singing while working (as long as you are not disturbing your neighbors). Being real and honest with who you are will make you stand out. Your personality is your trademark, so forget about camouflaging under that corporate stereotype to fit in.
6. Share your knowledge
As we suggested in our last article: add value. Help your colleagues with the information you already master so they become better professionals. Be generous with what you know. Now take this to the next level and make it a work culture; reward employees for helping others out. This will benefit your co-workers, but it will also promote your image as a leader: you will be contributing to the development of the business and a happier work environment.
Show honest interest for the people that surround you and you will be rewarded with motivated employees, engaged clients, and a strong reputation.