LDQ training material netowrking networking workshop

Improving your Networking Skills V2... Networking: definitions…and services among individuals and groups having a common interest [ http://dictionary.reference.com ] associates and keepi

Improving your

Networking Skills

V2

Today’s workshop…

6 degrees of separation, down to 4

Ref: Daily Telegraph 22/11/11 http://goo.gl/M0ljL

Analysis of 69 billion connections showed 99.6% of all pairs of Facebook users are connected by paths with 5 degrees (6 hops), 92% are connected by only four degrees (5 hops)

Networking: definitions…

and services among individuals and groups having a common interest [ http://dictionary.reference.com ]

associates and keeping it active through

www.businessdictionary.com ]

 Networking depends on relationships

One simple rule

to become a networker, with no interference

to one’s daily routine All it requires is a slight shift in attitude, and adopting one simple

trifurcated rule:

openness to learn more about that person, a willingness to help, and an offer to stay in

touch.”

[ Buzzy Gordon - http://entrepreneurs.about.com ]

How big is your network?

People you have known

in the past

People you know now

People you will know in the future

Dunbar’s number

 150 = the maximum

number of people with

whom we can maintain

relationships

 Hypothesis by primatologist

Robin Dunbar that 150 is the maximum number of social interactions you can manage

 It is the number at which groups start to break down

 The number is higher or lower

across different species of social primates

Map your network

My Network

Prof Orgs Universities Friends Suppliers Customers

Colleagues

BENEFITS AND BARRIERS

• Usually external & share common interests

Strategic

• People who can help you shape your future goals & direction

• May be internal or external & are future- oriented

3 reasons for networking

How Leaders Create and Use Networks

by  Herminia Ibarra and  Mark Hunter  HBR Jan 2007

 Introverts  Extroverts

Introverts and Extroverts

Introverts

 Think, then speak

 Prefer small groups

 Comfortable being alone

 Know a few people well

 Take risks, carefully (!)

 Solitude is a catalyst for

their creativity

 Focus on one thing at a

time

Extroverts

 Speak, then think

 Enjoy being in bigger groups

 Have lots of friends

 Get their energy from other people

 Dive into new situations with energy

 Thrive on surprises and not knowing “what’s up”

 Good multi-taskers

If you’re an Introvert…

 It’s not about selling yourself, it’s about helping other people

 It’s not about becoming popular, it’s about learning and sharing

 If it’s hard to talk to strangers, make it easy for them to talk to you

 Ask good questions (Open Questions)

 Be more interested in them than in yourself

 Look for ways to help them

 Follow-up meetings with ideas, offers to help, recommendations

 Make it easy for others to find you (use online tools)

 Most of these apply to Extroverts too!

The Shy Connector: http://goo.gl/Oys3D

Pay forward…

Not all network contacts are equal

 Networks contain a small number of people that have proportionately more influence over the network than others

 This 5-10 per cent of individuals, called critical

connectors by organisational anthropologist Karen Stephenson, occupy specific places within networks

Ref: http://goo.gl/mWXgA

Hubs, Gate-keepers & takers

areas of expertise

Pulse-takers are

the covert influencers within networks who are often more knowing than known, and they connect with others strategically

Your networking plan

Map your

network

Identify your critical connections

Engage and add value

Develop & grow your network

OFFLINE NETWORKING

Networking made easy

The one minute talk

anyone asking who you

are and what you do

The one minute talk should answer four questions…

you are speaking to

care?

It’s about them, not about you!

Ref: http://goo.gl/NX8dS

Other offline opportunities

 Test the kit first!

 One person to chair

 Make introductions at start

 One person speaking at a time

 Speak in your normal voice, don’t shout

 Include the person’s name when asking a question

 Turn off mobiles & mute PCs

 Don’t rustle papers or tap pens

 Avoid side conversations

 Conferencing Tips &

Etiquette…

 Test the kit first!

 One person to chair

 Make introductions at start

 One person speaking at a time

 Speak in your normal voice, don’t shout

 Include the person’s name when asking a question

 Turn off mobiles & mute PCs

 Don’t rustle papers or tap pens

 Avoid side conversations

ONLINE NETWORKING

Networking made easy (easier)

 Engage in online communities (90:9:1 Rule)

 Lurk in groups (90%)

 Respond to others’ contributions (9%)

 Start conversations (1%)

 Start a group (and remember 90:9:1)

 Host, or participate in, webinars

 Subscribe to news feeds, or curated online

journals

 Forward “this might interest you” articles

 Write a blog, subscribe, comment (= peer

review)

 Create a wiki

 Share presentations via Slideshare.net

LinkedIn

PERSONAL ACTION PLANS

So, we’ve talked about…

offline

 Skills and tools to use

Your action plan…

See it

Say it

Write it

Do it Review it