‘BLUE CHIP Networking' gives you access to Global Expertise & Opportunities!
- miriamm6
- Mar 24, 2022
- 6 min read
Making the right connections can be very helpful; not just in terms of your career progression but also for your personal life too.
Whether you’re looking for career opportunities (local as well as overseas), are looking to persuade the right candidates to join your organisation, are looking for new business opportunities, experts to evaluate your tech stack, customers, executive recruiters, legal experts to advise you on your upcoming deals, are looking to expand into new territories, find out more about business schools from MBA alumni, are looking to meet global peers who share your professional qualifications, looking for travel advice, relocation advice (schools, accommodation), or, looking for the best medical specialists, engineers, and so forth...
...making the right connections can be very helpful both in terms of your career progression as well as, your personal life too.
Another often important point - the higher up the career ladder you progress, the more important the right networks become.
So when it comes to networking, approach it as you would, if building an investment portfolio;
...Diversification and Asset allocation are key!
In other words, avoid the temptation to only connect with the same or, similar people.
So..
...don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
When done properly, networking can open doors to many opportunities, experiences (both local and international), as well as save you a lot of time and money.
The good thing about networking these days is you don’t even have to leave your home.
Whether it’s connecting with a Doctor from Singapore, an accountant from Kenya, a six-Sigma supply chain expert from the UK, a lawyer from Ghana, an engineer from Germany, a VC from the USA, a tech start-up founder from the Philippines, a Swiss banker, a CFA in Canada, or, a marketing expert from India, networking is key to connecting you to experts and influential people from all over the world, all now at the click of a button.
Put simply...
Networking gives you access to global Opportunities and Expertise!
Whether it’s for potential jobs, clients, business partners, customers or more...
... networking can open up the world and can be an enjoyable experience when viewed as an opportunity to connect with, and meet, interesting people and experts from all walks of life, gain new experiences as well as, an opportunity to learn.
Many people wrongly assume that the more certifications and academic qualifications they have, the better their career prospects.
However, this is not always the case because often, the higher up the ladder you progress, the more important the right networks become.
On another note.
Networking shouldn’t just be confined to your professional career. When started early, it can also help you grow as a person in many ways.
Networks can make travel, cultural activities, learning new languages, fitness, wellness, and experiencing new cuisine, so much more fun and interesting.
It's always good to know experts from different countries especially countries in which you intend to work, do business, study, and/or holiday.
This may be one of the reasons why Airbnb is very popular because nothing beats working in, or experiencing the world through the eyes or on the advice of, local people and experts.
While on paper we may be different, connection has no borders these days.
With networking come amazing opportunities and experiences – as long as you’re prepared to get out of your comfort zone and turn a stranger into a possible friend, business partner or, long-term contact.
Avoiding networking is missing out on opportunities
Imagine the opportunities you have, in terms of accessing global specialists, experts, fellow professionals and, future friends?
Imagine the learning opportunities, business opportunities, advice on health, investments, property, fitness, wellness, tech, travel, legal experts and more; often only a keyboard stroke away.
When it comes to networking; be open to new opportunities and situations
Avoid confining networking opportunities to only face-to-face events or, to only specific times and/or occasions. This is limiting your opportunities to meet with potential contacts.
Whether you’re dropping the kids off at school, walking the dog, waiting for the bus, in the library, queueing for your favourite ice-cream, at the hairdresser/barber or, making tea in the office kitchen...
... there are ample opportunities often in the most unexpected of places, to make new friends and/or, business contacts.
You can also use these situations as a practise run in terms of polishing up your networking and communication skills, an opportunity to build your self confidence or, as prep., for an upcoming big business or, other event.
In some lines of business, the higher up you climb, the more it becomes more about your networks and the business opportunities that you can bring to the organisation.
In many careers, as you climb higher up the ladder, promotion becomes less about technical skills (since these are taken as given), and more about your networks:
How much business can you generate through your networks?
How many doors to exclusive deals can you open?
How many experts can you entice to join the organisation?
Can you pick up the phone to someone within your network to get you those tickets to the sold out (business or tech) event of the year or, will you be relying on Google like everyone else?
Other questions when it comes to your networks:
Who can you call when your company is facing challenges?
Which journalists do you know who can get out the company story about your product launch next month?
and even,
Who will give you the heads up when your dream job arises?
Avoid coming across as a user; Networking is a two way street and, a slow-burn process.
Networking is also about helping the other person too and should be viewed less as a transaction and more like a subscription model i.e long term.
This is where many people go wrong and is why it is advisable to start networking as early as possible i.e. before you're desperately trying to look for a new job, lawyer, MBA schools etc
If you cannot even be bothered to update your LinkedIn profile or invest in the time to refresh it, how can your new connection get to know you, what you do, and how they may be able to help you?
Networking is also about you being able to showcase what you offer to the other person and this becomes clear when they look at your profile or Google you.
This is why you need to regularly update and optimise your LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn Optimisation many sound complicated but it need not be.
An outdated, neglected profile will not impress a potential Contact.
What are you telling them if your profile is sparse and/or is simply a copy/paste of your job description?
No thought process. You are instead, advertising a "I can't be bothered to invest time in myself" attitude...
On the other hand, don’t under estimate what you bring to the table.
While you may think you have nothing to offer a top lawyer, doctor or, successful entrepreneur...
... Do your research. You may be in for a surprise.
On her profile or at a cocktail party, perhaps your potential business contact mentions that she’s soon travelling to Thailand and you've travelled or, lived there for 5 years!
Or, on his LinkedIn profile, he mentions that he’s taking up golf and you have a handicap of 18...
... sure, you’re not Tiger Woods but you’re far more of an expert than your potential contact, in a field in which, he has expressed an interest. So, guess what?
As far as they're concerned, no PhD can match what you've got!
Networking isn't rocket science.
All it takes is a willingness to sometimes face rejection and to then not take things personally and, move on.
Mute the inner voice that asks “Who am I to contact someone on LinkedIn or walk up to someone at a party and introduce myself?”
Fortunately, the better you become at networking, the fewer the rejections but when they do arise (and they will), accept rejection with grace and, move on.
View rejection as nothing more than a stock market correction - Expect, Accept and, Move on. Whatever you do, don't panic. Rejection is to be anticipated but writing off networking because of 1-2 rejections is a huge mistake.
Imagine writing off the whole stock market because 1-2 shares are under performing? You wouldn't right?
When you start viewing networking as an asset/investment (which it is), then your attitude changes.
Rejection from Person A, could be an opportunity for you to meet with Person B, and can open the door(s) to other (maybe even bigger), opportunities you hadn't event thought of.
So, when done properly, networking can open doors which previously may have been locked to you - locally and/or globally.
Networking can also be fun.
Even if you don't always find someone you connect with on every level, expanding your circle will usually enrich your life in some way.
so, just be yourself and, more important, be interested in the other person too because just like you, s/he also has a story.
Your job is to find out what that story is, and to see how you can help them bring that story to life!
In return, if you connect with the right people (and not everyone is the right person), then networking can bring new experiences, learning opportunities and also, save you time and money!
NEXT STEPS?
To find our more about my coaching services (Leadership Development, 360 degree feedback, coaching on building global networks, CV (structure & design), Negotiation tips and more), please click HERE
Alternatively, if you'd like to have a free coaching consultation then book your slot below and let's discuss how we can work together in your executive role.
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