You’ve woken up one morning, stretched and said “I’ve had enough – my career has got to change”. If this is you, then I have ten things to say that will change your life forever – and within 3 months. If you want to learn the real secrets to short cutting your way to a better career or new business – start taking networking far more seriously.
Stage 1 – before you start networking be focused and get sharp
- Write down exactly what you want and describe it in detail including issues such as salary, location, reporting to etc. Ask yourself if you want to leave or stay with your current company?
- Now write down who the decision maker(s) are who will hire you? If there are 2 or 3 people involved, write them all down. Make sure you state their position or their names if you know them.
- Consider what will make you very saleable in this chosen market. Write down at least 8 categories such as skills, knowledge, communication, etc. Be very specific.
- To get really focused and sharp you need to know something about the decision-makers. Find out for example:
- what do they do all day?
- what buying power do they have?
- what are the 3 biggest challenges facing these people right now?
Summary – be knowledgeable and very marketable – spend time getting ready.
networking works when applied consistently and with passion. Dreams won’t knock on your door unless you are seen and active.
Stage 2 – get out there and meet “your buyers”, network, network, network
- Where and how you network depends if you are staying or leaving your current company. Your objective is to find out where your decision-makers network and make sure you attend those events.
- Involve your favourite and most trustworthy suppliers in your quest – after all they are working with your competitors decision-makers. Self-marketing is a systematic approach, word of mouth marketing is not – it happens when and where you least expect it to (and this works for internal marketing as well).
- Call your competitors marketing departments and find out if they run events and get on their mailing list. Go to as many of these events as you can. Same with trade fares etc. Go to as many as you can and simply talk to people. You will discover for yourself where the triggers are.
- Practice the top 23 skills of a professional networker (email me for a list).
- Network with everyone, create a givers gain attitude or “luck” can backfire.
- Be clear, get focused, get out there, play and create a hug amount of energy – when in doubt ask questions and find a role model.
Summary – networking works when applied consistently and with passion. Dreams won’t knock on your door unless you are seen and active.