Networking: we all have heard of it. What does it mean? To interact with other people and to exchange information and develop contacts (thank you Mr. Dictionary for the definition).
Sounds easy enough…….Right?
ITS BECAUSE IT IS.
This past weekend I had a few alumni from my high school stop by my apartment in Kansas. They were on a road trip to Idaho (my former place of residency). These young gentlemen were on a journey to start their schooling at a local college which I had went to. As we talked they said they were looking for a place , a job etc…. all the things which come first hand with moving to a new location. This immediately made my brain start to twirl….
I happened to have a management position at a company when I resided there and decided to make a few calls. Now the three of them have a potential job and all have an interview there first day they arrive.
BOOM!
“Networking” has created opportunity which may not have been there in the first place. So what can we take away from this? A couple things.
IT OPENS DOORS. Expanding your contacts can open doors to new opportunities for career advancement, personal growth, or even “new” knowledge. Doing active networking helps to keep you at the front of people’s minds when new opportunities open up. Like the case I explained, knowing the right people can make the process much easier as well. An interview that might have taken weeks to get is available in one day.
IT’S A SOURCE FOR NEW PERSPECTIVES. Your network can be an excellent source of new perspectives and ideas to help you in your career. Exchanging information on experiences and goals is a key benefit of networking because it allows you to gain new insights. Also offering thoughts to a colleague is an excellent way to show you are creative thinker. If you give good advice they will bring others to you.
We as humans think in several ways, which is why it can be very useful to speak to someone in a different field. They may provide a completely new way of looking at a problem that you may not have considered or even known about.
This does not mean network with only people in higher jobs above you either. Network with anyone who has “similar” goals: motivated to succeed, hungry for success. Surronding yourself around that culture will help us achieve great things. Connections could be made with someone you never knew would be great. Plus, you never know who they know, and who they might introduce you to.
At the end of the day networking is one of the most valuable skills you can cultivate. In my mind it is the backbone of any career, and is something you can always be working on and striving to improve. It is also something which can be fun! Meeting new people, sharing ideas and helping each other become GREAT(ER) AGAIN!
So network away! Get yourself out there! Be bold! Be daring! Get out and be the best version of you.
Hope you enjoyed! Happy Tuesday!
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