YOUR BUSINESS
Authentic Networking
When I teach seminars to rooms full of executives or middle managers I always ask: Raise your hand if you are a “Natural Networker.”
I was surprised to find that every time, the vast majority of hands stayed down. In fact the ratio to date is about 2 in 15.
I spent most of my career thinking that mostly everyone except me was a natural networker -- so I was disadvantaged.
But now, I have good news for you if you are not a natural networker:
- You are in the majority. (whew!)
- There are systems you can use to be good at it (I will tell you about them.)
- It doesn’t need to be unpleasant. (I speak from personal experience.)
The problems:
Most people who are not natural networkers have at least one of the following issues with networking, if not all five.
- Discomfort approaching people you don’t know.
- Don’t like talking to someone without a specific purpose to the conversation
- Seems ugly, self-serving
- Don’t get around to doing it regularly
- Fear it will take too much time to maintain the relationship.
The principals of what I call Authentic Networking solve all these problems, and I will discuss them throughout this month’s column:
YOUR PEOPLE
Making connections for your high performers
4. Connect people with each other
People with strong networks perform better and get more done. It is a critical aspect of the development of your top performers. As roles become more senior, the context for the role becomes broader, and having a personal network becomes more important.
Connecting people with each other provides value to the parties involved. You need to make sure that you are helping create a broad support structure for your top performers so that they will have the built in support they will need when they step into bigger jobs.
Here are some ideas:
YOUR VISIBILITY
Hope and tools for non-natural networkers
Idea #5 . Use systems and crutches:
This is about the “staying in touch with people” part of networking vs. the “meeting new people part”, and also solves the fourth “don’t get around to doing it regularly” issue.
I am a big believer in crutches. Going through life being disciplined, directed, and diligent with constant focus and willpower is unrealistic (and probably not much fun!)
I have found that understanding what crutches work for me, then creating them and using them, is a much more realistic and effective way to go.
With regard to networking I have created a very simple by systematic way to stay in touch with people, and this system serves as my crutch to make sure that I keep up with my Network.
YOUR LIFE
Spend time with people you like!
Finally, this one should be a no brainer, but it's easy to get busy and distracted, and forget to do this.
6. Stay in touch with people you like:
It seems that our work often results in needing to spend a lot of time with people we don’t like very much.
The people that we like are the relationships that do take time to maintain, but that’s the whole point. Spending the time is a good thing.
It seems a little forced, I admit, (but it’s a good crutch!) so one of my categories is a list of people that I genuinely want to spend time with. I make sure that each month, I do something to connect with at least one of them.
I hope you have found a few useful ideas that you can apply right away to start building value in your career and business.
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About Patty
Patty Azzarello was the youngest general manager at HP ever at the age of 33. She ran a $1B software business at the age of 35 and was a CEO for the first time at the age of 38. Patty is known for her personal leadership qualities, her straightforward and practical manner, and her genuine interest in making a real connection with people to help them to advance their career and business, and to find ways to enjoy their life more.
Today Patty Azzarello is the CEO of Azzarello Group, www.AzzarelloGroup.com a unique services organization focused on helping companies develop and motivate their top performers and grow their business.
Azzarello Group delivers practical, experience-based tools, through products and services including, executive coaching, public speaking, leadership workshops, online programs, and consulting with teams on business execution.
