Posted by Shradha Balakrishnan on Tue, Aug 24, 2010
A guest post by Lynn Harris:
Why you should view networking as an essential leadership competency
Many of my coaching clients either say they don’t like networking, or they simply don’t have the time for it. They say things like:
“People who network contact me only when they want something.”
“Networking events are awful. They are full of people thrusting business cards into my hand while looking over my shoulder for someone who might be more useful.”
“I don’t have the time or the energy to network. At the end of the day all I want to do is get home to see my kids before they go to bed.”
In the light of such comments, it might be helpful to clarify what networking is not about.
It’s not about exchanging business cards, working a room, having unproductive lunch or coffee meetings, sucking up to important people or manipulating others for your own benefit.
What networking is about is building strategic business relationships as a core leadership competency.
Why bother?
Building a network of professional relationships enables you to:
- Develop your leadership capacity by accessing diverse perspectives and relevant information from which you can gain new insights and make intelligent decisions.
- Influence successfully within your industry/profession and across your organization.
- Support others within your network of relationships.
- Get the support you need to be even more successful in your current role.
- Influence your career progression.
- And gain energy and stimulation from interesting people.
Taking networking seriously as a core leadership competency can make the difference between :
Being a good leader who is stuck you your current role, to an excellent leader who is going places;
Being a member of a profession, and a respected leader of that profession;
Being a person whose sphere of influence is small, to a leader who is known and respected by many;
And being a person who thinks and acts strategically to manage your career, and someone who reacts to career opportunities if and when they come along.
If you have so far viewed networking as a “nice to do if I had the time” it would be wise to rethink your approach and view it as “an essential leadership attribute I need to master.”
How to take a more strategic approach
A reactive approach to networking goes something like: “I will set aside five hours per week to network.” This doesn’t usually work because you are creating a task out of a perceived need.
As soon as more immediate needs come along, this task drops off the end of your to-do list.
A more strategic approach is to create a diverse network of relationships as a way of life. This means you need to:
- Be open and available to make contact with people around you, rather than burying your head in tasks.
- Find ways to invest in and become an asset to others.
- Dig your well before you’re thirsty – build your network of relationships through investing in others long before you need help or support from the people in your network.
- Build relationships all the time, as a way of life. We all have opportunities to develop relationships every day, both inside and outside of our organizations – take them.
- Be interested and interesting – building a network of relationships requires mutual connection where both parties are stimulated by the interaction.
- Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself – women, in particular, have a reputation for putting others’ needs and interests before their own, which might be an admirable quality but will not result in mutual connections and a network of mutually beneficial relationships.
- Be a connector – make introductions and bring individuals and groups together.
- Join professional networks where you can make new contacts, be exposed to diverse thinking and build new friendships.
- Follow through – reconnect and stay in touch with people.
In today’s organizations, building and maintaining networks of mutually beneficial professional relationships is the way we do business and progress our careers.
Just in case you hadn’t realized it – networking has become an essential leadership competency, not a “nice to do if I had the time.”
If you want more in-depth advice on how to build networks of strategic professional relationships, you will find a chapter in Unwritten Rules: What Women Need To Know About Leading In Today's Organizations.
About Lynn Harris:
Lynn Harris brings over 20 years of managerial, leadership and consulting experience in large organizations. She runs her own executive development practice based in Montreal, Canada where she specializes in executive coaching, team development and meeting facilitation. She also works internationally with colleagues from Europe delivering organizational change projects and leadership development workshops.
Author: Unwritten Rules What Women Need To Know About Leading In Today's Organizations
www.unwrittenrulesthebook.com
Posted by Shradha Balakrishnan on Thu, Jul 08, 2010
Why do we click with some people and not with others?
In CLICK (June; Broadway Books) co-author Ori Brafman looks at the research across psychology, behavioral economics, neuroscience and sociology to unravel this mystery at the heart of romantic, sexual and friend relationships.
He looks to science to explore:
· What happens in our brains when we click with someone?
· How we can accelerate clicking with someone we would like to get attached to?
· How to predict what type of person we might click with?
· What we should do after we click with someone to maintain chemistry for an
enduring relationship?
· How clicking with someone elevates our performance in everything including
success at work?
Ori Brafman is also author of the New York Times bestseller SWAY: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior, which was called “provocative” (New York Times), “breezy” (Wall Street Journal) and “amiable,” (USA Today). Ori holds a BA in peace and conflict studies from Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford Business School. He has appeared on ABC-TV’s “Nightline,” CNBC, and the Fox Business Network.
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue: MySpace offices, 625 Second Street , San Francisco, CA 92107
This event is hosted by Girls in Tech, who have generously offered 10 free tickets to this event for FWL!
The free tickets are on a first-come, first-serve basis, so HURRY and register now!
To register, go to http://oribrafmanauthorchat.eventbrite.com/event/731351492 and enter the discount code "FutureWomenPromo" to reserve your free space!
Posted by Shradha Balakrishnan on Mon, Jun 21, 2010
Calling all potential MBAs!
Thinking about going to business school? Studying for the GMAT? Mulling over the application essays?
The Harvard Club of San Francisco invites FWL members and friends to participate in a lively and interactive panel discussion with representatives of three of the world's top business schools on June 29 at the University Club. They'll be discussing curriculum
enhancements, job market prospects, global exchanges and
opportunities, and of course, admissions trends.
Hosted by Betsy Massar, Founder of Master Admissions and graduate of Harvard Business School, presenters include:
• Kirsten Moss, Director of Admissions, Stanford Graduate School of Business
• Hilary Caplan Somorjai, HBS '96, Harvard Business School Admissions Board Member and Career Coach
• Archana Ravichandran, Wharton MBA '08, Alumni Interviewer
• Erin Kellerhals, Associate Director of Admissions, Berkeley Haas
Full-time MBA Program
Plus, chat with recent b-school graduates during the networking
sessions before and after the panel discussion.
Cash bar, with complimentary appetizers
Open to Harvard Club/Ivy Plus Club members and their guests.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
6 pm cocktails, program at 7 pm
University Club
800 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA
$15 members of HCSF and co-sponsoring orgs
$25 non-members
Registration required by: 6/28/2010
Register here.
Posted by Shradha Balakrishnan on Sun, Apr 25, 2010
Stanford Women in Business presents its annual conference, I Don’t Know to CEO, on Saturday, May 1st, 2010 at Stanford University. The conference strives to educate, motivate and connect students and young adults to achieve success at every point in their future careers. The conference will feature speakers who have reached these heights and are eager to share their stories.
At the conference, participants will take part in hands-on workshops and get the opportunity to network with others. For I Don’t Know to CEO 2010, they have an especially impressive line-up of speakers. Susie Cranston, author of "How Remarkable Women Lead," Rob Britton, a pioneer in the Airline Industry, and many more leaders of the fashion, finance and environment industries have agreed to share their stories with the aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders of today.
In order to attend I Don’t Know to CEO 2010, please visit their website
and register.
If you have any questions or concerns about the conference, please feel free to contact the VP of Conference, Rebecca Johnson (beckyj1@stanford.edu).
Posted by Megan Bergtholdt on Wed, Apr 14, 2010
Thought we'd share what looks to be like a fun networking how-to event next week in San Francisco. Here are the details:
Posted by Shradha Balakrishnan on Wed, Mar 17, 2010
A guest post by Pat Obuchowski:
"Networking puts eyes and ears in places where you yourself can't look and can't listen."
~Max Messmer
A client of mine was laid off after 15 years with the same company. One of her first realizations was that she wished she had networked more during that time to stay in contact with people she met in her industry and to make new contacts. This would have proved invaluable to her when she started to look for new work.
What is it about networking that's not working for you? I'm talking about the old fashioned face to face contact, not social networking, which is a whole other topic.
We continue to hear that networking is the number one way to find the job we're looking for, earn the business we want, find the resources we need, and to make the connections we need as human beings. Well, why aren't we all stars at networking?
I always thought networking had the meaning of working hard to grab as many people as you can in your net. Kind of like fishing for tuna. The more the better. I thought it was an odd word to use.
Dictionary.com defines networking as: a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.
Isn't that a much more effortless way of looking at it? Oh, it's supportive. That means that I can also help other people. And by the way, that is the best approach to take. Magic words asking someone "How can I help you?"
Oh, it's a system. There is an order, a schema. Now, that I can work with. I need a plan to work in a system. I can do that.
Oh, it's sharing information and services. It's not about going in and being desperate to make the one right connection (although it is about making connections). I have lots of information and great services to share. And, oh, it's about sharing. I just have to find that common point and we're off!
Oh, we have a common interest. Of course. That is what would draw a group of people to any networking event. All I have to do is find the common interest.
They are there for the same reason as I am. To find a supportive system of sharing information and services among individual and groups having a common interest. Knowing we're there for the same reason sure does make it a lot easier.
Now having a different perspective on networking, here are a few things that I have found to work for networking at events.
1. Just do it. I was really fearful of networking when I started my business eight years ago, but now I consider myself a pretty good networker. I still feel the GULP and I still do it anyway. I remind myself that most of these people are here for the same reason I am.
2. Be specific. Have your 15-30 second elevator speech ready. Use a networking event as a playground for testing out your elevator speech. Use it and see how it lands. Try it several times and if necessary revise it.
3. Future contact. I remember that in all likelihood if this isn't an industry event or a regular networking event, I will never see most of these people again...unless I want to. This idea frees me up to do things such as test my elevator speech, or a new marketing phrase I want to set up, or to do a survey of something.
4. Ask the other person, "How can I help you?" These are the magic words and I have found that most often, people don't know what to ask, but they do love being asked. You just must be prepared to help them if they do ask you for something specific.
5. Keep your promises. If you say you're going to do something, e.g., make a connection, give a referral, send an article, be sure you do it. There is nothing worse than breaking a promise to start off a relationship.
"The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals and feeling truly happy about themselves, continually put the other person's needs ahead of their own." ~Bob Burg
Expect a call from me soon. I'm networking.
About Pat Obuchowski:
Pat Obuchowski is CEO (Chief Empowerment Officer) of inVisionaria, a Leadership and Team coaching organization. She currently serves as a Global Board Director for the International Coach Federation, the largest professional coaching association in the World.Web: www.inVisionaria.com
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/patobuchowski
*Image: Spectrum by Lumax Art
Posted by Shradha Balakrishnan on Mon, Jan 25, 2010
The 2010 Haas School of Business Women in Leadership Conference is coming up! Thought this may be just the kind of opportunity many of you have been eagerly awaiting.
Posted by Melissa Tarpley on Mon, Nov 23, 2009
"You are in control of your own destiny!" says my boss to various women in the office. Her statement is repeated time and time again when someone leaves the company for either another company or alternative department or city re-assignment. She doesn't say it to be rude but rather to inspire the rest of the team to be responsible for their careers. In a time of economic change coupled with reports of how women (especially those of color) are becoming more the bread winners, that we take more control of our destiny?
Any Future Woman Leader has to start with the basics. Here are my 5:
1. Get Out! Network in the arena you had envisioned. You want to work with accountants, go hang out with accountants. There are number of websites (ie. meetup.com) and organizations that have happy hour events. Give yourself a goal to meet 3 people, send them an email that it was a great to meet them and add them to your social grouping. Then....send them a hello email every quarter to see how they are doing (if you think you won't see them as often). Keep them in touch with what you are working on or have accomplished. This way when a job opportunity comes around you will some additional connections/recommendations.
2. Get Mentored! Get matched through FWL with someone in which you want to "grow up" to be. Then ask your potential mentor for a cup of coffee or lunch to talk about how you want to be like them one day and need help doing it. For about $30.00 you get insight on how reach the top and they get a free meal. Who turns down a free meal to talk about themselves?!
3. Group Up! Invite a few women that you know (doesn't matter if they know each other, it probably would be funnier if they didn't) for dinner and talk about those "taboo" topics like how did you negotiate your salary or what can I do to get to the next level? Can't get together for dinner; try during your lunch break at a nearby restaurant. Call it group therapy for the soul.
4. Give Back! Why are you holding on to valuable information in your head? Remember when you said "I wish someone would have told me..."? Well now you have a chance to tell someone the good, bad, sexy, and ugly of your job to help others not make the same mistakes and/or be inspired to rule the world. Write a blog or be a mentor.
5. Get Real With Yourself! Don't allow people to talk you out of your passion nor let fear of failure or finances get in your way.
Sounds simple, yet many future women leaders ask the question: how do I get there? The answer: get control of the basics.
Posted by Shradha Balakrishnan on Mon, Nov 02, 2009
We just got invited to attend a unique networking event, one that would interest many of you! You may have seen career expert and best selling author, Nicole Williams (check out her website) on The Today Show or MSN. Well, she has just written a book called Girl on Top, where she's taken the classic dating rules and turned them into career strategies... a fun way to think about career.
Girl on Top is touring across the country, and hosting what sounds like a fabulous event in Santa Clara on November 4th. Together with The Limited and Elle Magazine, they are hosting a cocktail event that will include an opportunity to network, shop the latest fall fashion with a 40% discount, get career advice from Nicole, and walk away with a filled-to-the-brim gift bag. (Click here to see photos from previous events!)
They have reserved spots at the event for members and friends of Future Women Leaders! If you'd like to attend the event, please RSVP here: http://girlontopbook.com/tour
Date: November 4, 2009
Location: The Limited at Valley Fair
2855 Steven's Creek Boulevard Santa Clara, CA 95050
Time: 6-9pm
Posted by Shradha Balakrishnan on Fri, Oct 23, 2009
Young Nonprofit Professionals Network San Francisco Bay Area (YNPNsfba) is an organization that many of you may have already heard of. It is a network for established and emerging young nonprofit leaders in the greater San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose area. They are having their annual party next Wednesday (10/28) and are offering discount membership till then. Here's more:
Dear Friends & Fans of YNPN,
Are you a member of YNPN?
If not, we invite you to join now for the discounted price of $25.
As a member, you will:
* Receive discounts to YNPN events
* Gain access to networking opportunities with other paid members
* Obtain special benefits at YNPN career development events
* Give back to the YNPN community
* Belong to a network of your peers
We depend on the support of our members so that we can continue to provide free and low cost opportunities for our local nonprofit community. By joining YNPN, everyone in our community benefits.
For a limited time, we are discounting the price of our annual membership from $35 to $25. This reduced rate is available now and through Wednesday, October 28th.
There has never been a better time to join YNPN as a member! Please consider taking this opportunity to invest in yourself, YNPN, and the nonprofit sector. Join, connect, succeed.
To join now, go to: www.ynpn.org/sfba
Support YNPN.
Join, connect, succeed.