Proactive Career Networking

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.  Rule 4 – Help others be successful.  

Rule 5 – Stop keeping track.  

Rule 6 – Protect your network.  

Rule 7 – Exercise your network.  

Rule 8 – Treat others’ networks like gold.  

Rule 9 – Clean house.  

Rule 10 – It’s all about people.  It is the relationships in our lives that make life so rich.  The stronger the relationships you have, the richer your life will be.

It is your choice.  Build relationships that will make your life richer each year or build your Rolodex so you can have bragging rights at the next networking event.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro   to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.  

Rule 4 – Help others be successful.  

Rule 5 – Stop keeping track.  

Rule 6 – Protect your network.  

Rule 7 – Exercise your network.  

Rule 8 – Treat others’ networks like gold.  

Rule 9 – Clean house.  Once per year I will go through my contact list on LinkedIn and see if I can remember the last time I had contact with each person.  If I cannot remember then I will make a decision to either reach out and make a contact or delete them from my contact list.  To be in your network we need to interact at least once per year or we kidding ourselves about having a true relationship.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro  to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.  

Rule 4 – Help others be successful.  

Rule 5 – Stop keeping track.  

Rule 6 – Protect your network.  

Rule 7 – Exercise your network.  

Rule 8 – Treat others’ networks like gold.  When someone provides you an introduction to someone they know they are intrusting you with a piece of their reputation.  After your interaction with the new contact you return their reputation, but in what shape?  If the interaction is positive then you have enhanced their reputation.  If the interaction is negative then you have tarnished their reputation.  At this point your words and actions are representing not only you but. your contact.  Treat their reputation with the respect they desire.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.  

Rule 4 – Help others be successful.  

Rule 5 – Stop keeping track.  

Rule 6 – Protect your network.  

Rule 7 – Exercise your network.  Think of your network as a muscle that helps you succeed both personally and professionally.  If you ignore the muscle it will get weak and soft much like a coach potato.  By reaching out to your contacts on a regular basis you work the muscle, keeping it strong and tight.  The closer you are, or want to be, with a person the more frequent you should interact.  Out of site out of mind is a very true with your network.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro  to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.  

Rule 4 – Help others be successful.  

Rule 5 – Stop keeping track.  I

Rule 6 – Protect your network.  Do not provide introductions and contact information to people in your network unless you have a specific purpose that you can verbalize to those involved.  To successfully connect people you need to develop a win-win for both parties.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro  to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.

Rule 4 – Help others be successful.  

Rule 5 – Stop keeping track.  If you are tracking who called who last or who bought the last coffee then you are not building a relationship, you are becoming a creditor.  If you want to build a relationship with a person you need to invest your time and effort.  If after a reasonable time, the other person does not respond, move on.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro  to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.  I

Rule 4 – Help others be successful.  My wife’s grandmother always said that when you give a dollar to someone, when they have not asked, you will receive two dollars back in return.  It most likely will not come from the person you gave a dollar to, but will show up when you least expect and from a source that you never imagined.  If you help others be successful first, others will help you be successful.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro  to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.  Invest your time learning about the other person rather than telling them about you.  Do you know what hobbies your closest contacts have?  Can you describe the career path they have followed?  Do you know the names of their spouse and kids or even know if they have a spouse or kids?  The more you know about your advocates the more they will know about you.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro  to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  Your integrity, your word, is the true measure or your character.  What you say and ultimately do will evolve into your reputation in the community.  Once you are “branded”, either good or bad, it will be almost impossible to change.  Think about what brand you are developing, ask for feedback from your advocates and make your actions speak for themselves.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro   to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  The value of a few close friends that are your advocates is much greater than scores of acquaintances.  When I see people that have 1,000 contacts in LinkedIn or 2,000 friends on FaceBook I want to ask them how many have they actually?  How can someone that you only connect with electronically ever be your advocate?

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.