Effective Effective NetworkingNetworking

Developed by Developed by Line Plourde-Kelly Line Plourde-Kelly

January 2008January 2008

KDACL’S COMMUNITYKDACL’S COMMUNITYTHE UP SIDETHE UP SIDE

People are safePeople are safe People know each otherPeople know each other People are comfortablePeople are comfortable People know what to expectPeople know what to expect People are part of a groupPeople are part of a group People have opportunities to learnPeople have opportunities to learn People are cared forPeople are cared for People are well supportedPeople are well supported

THE DOWN SIDETHE DOWN SIDE

People are not engaged/interestedPeople are not engaged/interested People are stuck in a rutPeople are stuck in a rut People are not seen as uniquePeople are not seen as unique People are not challengedPeople are not challenged People are not productivePeople are not productive People are sedentaryPeople are sedentary People do not contributePeople do not contribute People do not meet new peoplePeople do not meet new people

WHAT IF…WHAT IF…

People had all the People had all the opportunities to be:opportunities to be:

safesafe

comfortablecomfortable

cared forcared for

well supported well supported

While being While being supported to:supported to:

meet new peoplemeet new people

In new placesIn new places

doing new thingsdoing new things

whilewhile

contributing their gifts contributing their gifts and talents to othersand talents to others

This will never happen This will never happen if we do not believe in if we do not believe in

our hearts that the our hearts that the people we support people we support

have something that have something that other people want.other people want.

……That the people we That the people we support have a support have a

contribution to make contribution to make to our community, our to our community, our

society.society.

That the people we That the people we support have gifts and support have gifts and talents to share with talents to share with

others.others.

That the people we That the people we support can have support can have

valued social roles, valued social roles, where their absence is where their absence is

missed.missed.

Once we are convinced Once we are convinced that these are possible that these are possible and true, we can begin and true, we can begin work to help those we work to help those we

support connect to support connect to others.others.

Effective Networking is Effective Networking is the keythe key

Donna Messer Donna Messer

Is an internationally acclaimed speaker Is an internationally acclaimed speaker on the subject of effective networking.on the subject of effective networking.

It is her material we will be using to help It is her material we will be using to help us understand and learn the skills us understand and learn the skills necessary to all be effective networkers necessary to all be effective networkers and therefore good connectors.and therefore good connectors.

The Foundation of The Foundation of Good Networking Good Networking

is…is…

The ability to ask The ability to ask questions and listen to questions and listen to

answers.answers.

NetworkingNetworking

Is a valuable tool for gaining information Is a valuable tool for gaining information Information is powerInformation is power It’s giving as well as receiving information It’s giving as well as receiving information

and advice. and advice. Successful networks give as much as Successful networks give as much as

they receive.they receive. It is different than asking for favors.It is different than asking for favors.

Networking requires …Networking requires …

You to join organizations and meetings in You to join organizations and meetings in areas that are of interest.areas that are of interest.

You make others look and feel good You make others look and feel good about you so you can get what you want.about you so you can get what you want.

The skill of linking people and contacts The skill of linking people and contacts together to reach your objective.together to reach your objective.

That you are not under pressure of need.That you are not under pressure of need.

Remember:Remember: Everyone you meet Everyone you meet has the power to has the power to lead you to others.lead you to others.

Ten Steps for Ten Steps for Good NetworkingGood Networking

Develop a PlanDevelop a Plan

Research the People You Research the People You Hope to ContactHope to Contact

Be Prepared to ListenBe Prepared to Listen

Force Yourself to Force Yourself to CirculateCirculate

Ask for Only One Thing Ask for Only One Thing at a Timeat a Time

Never Ask Directly for a Never Ask Directly for a JobJob

Be Willing to Give as Well Be Willing to Give as Well as to Receiveas to Receive

Take Notes When Take Notes When NetworkingNetworking

Keep Files on all Your Keep Files on all Your Network ContactsNetwork Contacts

Follow up on LeadsFollow up on Leads

RULES OF GOOD RULES OF GOOD NETWORKINGNETWORKING

Be Open-MindedBe Open-Minded

Be PreparedBe Prepared

Treat Everyone in Your Treat Everyone in Your Network as EqualsNetwork as Equals

Choose Members Based on Choose Members Based on Information, Not PositionInformation, Not Position

Don’t Be Afraid to AskDon’t Be Afraid to Ask

Don’t Waste Your Don’t Waste Your ResourcesResources

Give Without Give Without ExpectationsExpectations

Don’t Forget to say Don’t Forget to say Thank YouThank You

Set Realistic and Set Realistic and Achievable GoalsAchievable Goals

Be Committed and Be Committed and Determined to do Whatever Determined to do Whatever it Takesit Takes