Networking is the number one unwritten rule of success in business – Sallie Krawcheck
Last Friday, I attended a networking meet up in my city. If you invited me two years ago to a networking event, I would have probably said no. Not because of my fear of speaking but rather because I didn’t see the need to network. Attending 5@7, schmoozing with people I didn’t know or exchanging business cards with people that I thought I might never see again didn’t interest me. Boy was I wrong. Completely misguided. Looking at a great opportunity to make personal connections and meet interesting people who become lifelong contacts as a work instead of as a business accelerator.
Now it is true that networking can be done wrong (take the outspoken colleague who has had one too many drinks) but when done correctly, networking can allow you to meet new people who are potential movers and shakers in your industry. It can also lead to new career opportunities, increase visibility leading to a promotion or a raise. Networking can really propel you a lot quicker that the conventional corporate ladder can.
Building a strong network has now become a part of my career development. In my quest to find great tools from career expert, I found Anna Runyan’s 4X4 Networking Challenge. I am holding myself to the following two goals:
1) Each month, I will meet with 4 people that I already know but would like to get to know even better.
2) Each month, I will meet with 4 people that I don’t know but I would like to get to know.
Stay tuned for future blog posts on my results and what I am learning along the way.
In the meantime, here are a couple of articles that highlight the continued benefits of networking:
The Importance of Networking to Women’s Careers by Bloomberg Businessweek
8 Ultimate Opening Lines for Fearless Networking by LearnVest