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Networking: Not just for CEO's and Corporate Executives
By
Brycen Woodley
Whether you’re the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or a high school student, there are certain skills and abilities that are essential to your success. Networking is definitely one of those skills that has withstood the test of time and remains a necessary component for goal attainment in any facet of life. Don’t be fooled into thinking that networking is just for big shots and six figure executives: it is my opinion that networking is strongly tied to leadership, and that it is through effective networking that leaders become empowered to accomplish great things.
Networking consists of five main points that I’ve laid out in the acronym P.O.W.E.R.: Prepare, Organize, Wow, Engage, and Relax. By following these five simple steps, any leader can be well on their way to effective networking.
STEP ONE: Prepare. Where most of us fail when it comes to networking is the very outset. We approach a perfect stranger and begin gabbing about some topic that is of little or no interest to them. And why do we do that? Because we don’t take the time to think about what might be of interest to them. To effectively network you must first identify the person you’re talking to (for the purposes of this article we will call them our receiver) much like a salesmen would identify their customer before moving in with a pitch. Who are they? What are their interests? What is their background? What do they want? Place the focus on your receiver and not on yourself! Be sure that the conversation revolves around them and not you.
STEP TWO: Organize. So you’ve taken the time to assess your receiver, and you have an idea of what their likes and dislikes might be. You’ve thought about their background and current endeavors. Now is the time to formulate that knowledge into a cohesive conversation that will be both engaging and rewarding. Just as any tailor understands that no one suit will fit every person, an effective networker realizes that no one conversation will work for every person they encounter. They realize that their message must be custom-fit to their receiver. You’ve taken a mental note of what their background is and what their interests are, and now you must formulate a conversation that revolves around them.
STEP THREE: Wow. The “Wow Factor” is an essential part of any presentation. Whether it’s a big speech, a quaint business presentation, or a networking opportunity, it’s the “Wow Factor” that sets you apart from the rest. The “Wow Factor”, simply stated, is anything you can do to ensure that your receiver walks away from your conversation thinking, “Wow!” “Wow” because you impressed them, or “Wow” because you captivated them, or “Wow” because you made them feel just right… but always Wow! So just how does one achieve the Wow? By capitalizing on the things you do well and using them to your advantage. You don’t have to be a superstar to get a Wow; you just have to be yourself … your best self. Are you naturally funny, intelligent, outgoing, or penetratingly sincere? Focus on your strengths and bring them to the forefront in your conversation.
STEP FOUR: Engage. By now you’ve done all you can to understand who your receiver is and where they’re coming from, you’ve tailored your message to them, and you’ve made a point to focus on what you do well… so now what? The final two steps of our equation focus on you and how well you present yourself. The Engage step has to do with your voice, how you use it, and how you project it. One must realize that the way one talks, and not necessarily the words one uses, can communicate a lot about who you are. Be sure that you sound informed, educated, and qualified. Use professional language and leave out the slang. Use inflection; vary your tone as you attempt to express different emotions. Make it sound like you’re excited to be there and excited to be talking with them!
STEP FIVE: Relax. Hey, you’ve done your homework … so relax! Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts, and go get ‘em. You have just as much right to succeed as anyone else out there. Stand straight, keep your shoulders back, keep your head up, use good eye contact, start with a firm hand shake, and smile! If anyone can do it you can! Remember, if the person you’re networking thinks that you’re nervous, their first impression of you won’t be quite as favorable. So relax!
Networking is not a matter of eloquence or verbose intellectualism. It’s about being informed, being confident, being yourself, and staying on your toes. It’s about taking a deep breath, swallowing your fear of meeting someone new, and reaching out. You’ve earned the right to succeed and there is no one out there who can stop you … except for yourself!
Brycen Woodley, a former campaign team member to U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, is a Leadership Fellow with TRI and a frequent contributor to the Leadership Solutions Network. Click here to learn more about Brycen and how to contact him!
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