What does networking mean to you?
What I would like to know is how others feel about networking, whether you are new to it, or you are a veteran. If you are a newbie, what have you learned about networking from using LinkedIn? If you are a veteran, what kind of sage advice can you offer to newbies that will help them cultivate strong relationships within their networks; whether they are on LinkedIn or in person?
There is a book called, "Make Your Contacts Count: Networking Know-How for Business and Career Success" by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon. I found a lot of helpful information and suggestions to make the most of networking whether on or offline. In their book, they talk about building relationships through six stages, and how we can cultivate relationships so that they grow and develop through the six stages by demonstrating character and competence.
With that said, I have met a lot of great people since I started networking both in person, and online. I have learned to embrace and cherish people who are honest and welcoming, and I have learned to accept people who are more reserved and to themselves. The point is that there is a place here for all of us, and our opportunities to learn and grow from each other are only as limited as we make them.
Good Answers (2)
Andy E
Collaborative Leader, Community Evangelist, Compelling Writer, and Connector
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (2), Customer Service (1), Offshoring and Outsourcing (1), Software Development (1)
For me, networking is local. Although I have global and regional reach through LinkedIn and social networking sites, my most valuable contacts are local. Local, that is, through my sphere of influence. Folks I reach out to gain some level of immediate trust due to my proximity to them, whether geographical or relational. Then, it's up to me to take the first step and add value.
Because most of my most valuable networking relationships are also geographically local, part of my next step is a face-to-face meeting. Connecting with the best-of-the-best becomes very difficult without a face-to-face meeting. Of course this takes time, effort, and generally some small amount of money for coffee or lunch. And when we meet I'm looking for ways I can offer them value. If my colleague understands networking, I'll quickly receive value from them. If not, then I'll follow up our conversation with email or a phone call when I have the ability to offer more value. Eventually my colleague will catch on and begin offering value to others as part of the cycle.
So my philosophy towards networking is, "What can I give?" I view my role as building community and bringing others together. I subscribe to the notion of what goes around comes around, and I've been amazed more than once at what has come around to me when I've least expected it. I suppose another way to look at this is, those who are the luckiest work the hardest.
That's what networking means to me.
- Andy
Jeffrey S
Vice President, Writer/Columnist
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I use networking for many purposes. First of all, should something ever happen to my job, it is far easier to find one if you have an established network that you can rely on. Your network should go beyond one source (as you've stated, you should have an on-line network and an in-person network).
Second of all, I use my network to help others. While I initially started LinkedIn to help me find a job, I frankly forgot about it until after I found my career. But, then I had some friends and family that were looking for work, as well as a very close friend that wants to switch gears, and I felt the best way I could help them was to help build my network and have my network join their respective networks.
Third of all, I use networking as a learning opportunity. There are some really bright bulbs, especially here at LinkedIn, that offer a lot as far as "educational" opportunities. I learn quite a bit from these Q&A sessions.
Fourth of all, I use networking for business contacts. I'm in the manufacturing industry and we're always looking to expand our distributor base. It may not be who you know, but it might be someone who knows you that is important to me.
Fifth of all, I've used my network to help find old friends and classmates that I've lost touch with in the past. I like the idea of rekindling old friendships.
Jeff
Clarification added January 22, 2008:
In re-reading my first paragraph, I did an "Al Gore." I did not mean to infer that I "started" LinkedIn, rather, I meant I opened my account on LinkedIn.
Sorry for the confusion, you may now return to your previously scheduled program.
Clarification added January 22, 2008:
Oh I'm really good today... that should be the SECOND paragraph, not the first.
More Answers (5)
Jaideep K
GM-Project Management and Quality Assurance (Green Belt Six Sigma)
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Rightly said, all type of people exist on LI or for that sake any other community/social/professional network site. All networked people are not really networked as long as they don’t participate in the cause of the network. A network definitely lets you learn, climb up, see where others are moving, what others are doing, how fast or how slow the world or the part of world you are connected to is as compared to your pace, how do you cope up with the other, with the changes, with the momentum, with the pace. How long you can go along with the network actively. How do you act and react. Do you really act or react. Etc. etc.
Just shared few of my weird thoughts on the subject.
Ajay O
Director, Analytics
Best Answers in: Commercial Real Estate (1), Personnel Policies (1), Staffing and Recruiting (1), Offshoring and Outsourcing (1), Business Analytics (1), Business Plans (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
meeting new people online/offline , renewing contacts with existing acquaintances, being open to offer help and ask questions
If I am NOT Working, I should be NET Working...
It really helps
network with me at ajayohri@yahoo.com
Links:
George A
Principal Consultant at Anderson & Anderson Organizational Anger Management
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Networking for me is the opportunity to share my interests and expertise with others in exchange for stimulation, advice, introductions and business support.
George Anderson, MSW, BCD, CAMF
Links:
I am pretty new to networking. I am a student and currently use networking to build my carreer. Before I joined LI I mainly met people at parties or by going to university related events.
I joined LI only a couple of days age, but I now already have the idea that my network is broadening a lot. I get in contact with people with more different professions and in many different companies. Another benefit is that everybodies profile exactly contains the information that is interesting for me.
In a couple of days I will try to link up two of my contacts for a business opportunity. And that after being a member for only 3 days. Someone who started his own consulting business saw an interesting contact in my list and would like to get into contact with him.
By looking at how other people network at linkedin I can also learn how I could do it myself. I think you get immediately involved in the networking if you join actively.
Giovanni B
Business Solution & Project Manager at Engineering.IT | LION | giovanni_budicin@fastwebnet.it | skype:giovanni.budicin
Best Answers in: Software Development (1)
Dear Susette,
as you already know, I'm a newbie on LI. I've found initially an opportunity to re-contact people I've lost during my professional life. Using LI as a search engine for customers, friends and collegues I've found also a way to improve my knowledge; anyone may learning more watching specific arguments from other point of view.
I'm trying to understand the better way to use a social networking platform inside my business, like to build a bridge between core competencies of my group and the requierments of our customers.
Now my interest is twice: promote myself, sharing knowledge with other professionals into ICT industry and promote my son in other "enviroment", the music industry, you know. In this last case I've found LI platform an excellent resource of advisors.
This is my 0.02€ contribute.
Giovanni.
