Authentic networking to build your career

Focus on “we”

How can we help each other to improve professionally and grow? The street is truly two-way, with help and advice flowing back and forth. A friend of mine has lunch with a former co-worker on the second Tuesday of every month. Both of them have benefited from continuing a professional relationship that began over ten years ago. They’ve discussed and helped each other with professional problems, and my friend got a great referral from the former co-worker when she desperately needed to find a new administrative assistant with a very specific skill set. Both my friend and her former co-worker have truly benefited from continuing their connection through the years.

Concentration on long-term

Networthing is about building enduring professional relationships. Over time strong trust develops, as does respect for each other’s strengths and skills. I recently made arrangements to have dinner with a colleague who I worked with over twenty years ago. I learned that a business trip would take me to the area where she now lives, and wanted to be sure to reinforce our connection. I don’t “need” anything from her, and as far as I know she doesn’t “need” anything from me. I just want to make sure that our professional relationship continues after all these years. Not only do I like her personally, but I also trust her judgment and respect her professional knowledge.

Focus on “me”

The focus shouldn’t be so selfish, but many people have used networking only with the idea of promoting themselves and their interests. Their concerns are centered only on their needs. “How can I use my network to get a new job? How can I use my network to find the new clients I need for my business?” A friend told me a few years ago that she has stopped going to meetings of professional associations. She has grown weary of strangers striking up what seem to be friendly conversations, only to have a resume shoved into her hands five minutes later.

Concentration on short-term

Many people use their network for just one purpose, such as finding a new job, and then let their contacts drop. They may pop up again in a few years when they need your help again, but don’t expect to hear from them in the interim. A friend of mine served as a reference for a colleague several years ago. My friend had no further contact with the person until about a year ago. One day, from out of the blue, he received a phone call from a prospective employer for the colleague, saying that the colleague had listed him as a reference. Since there had been no contact over the years and he really felt there was no longer a relationship, he refused to provide the reference. My friend’s former colleague was truly focused only on short-term needs, and not an ongoing professional connection.

Think about your professional relationships, and ask yourself: “Am I Networthing for Success?” Strong ongoing professional connections will benefit both you and everyone you know.

• How did you get into this type of work? Your current position?

• What changes are happening in your organization? In your industry, field of work?

• What do you like most about your organization?

• What do you like best about your field of work/current position?

• What would you change if you could?

• What types of skills (both technical and transferable) are important to success in your organization? In your field of work?

• What advice would you give to someone interested in your organization? In your career field?

• What are your biggest challenges? (When you ask this, listen for any areas where you have expertise – could offer help or information.)

What other questions can you think of?

Special thanks to Alan De Back from Learning & Communicationsopens in new window for this article.