Archive for Networking
What’s all the chatter?
Posted by: | CommentsOne of my favorite things about Twitter are the chat groups. On any given night, you can join dozens, or even hundreds, of other Twitterers in a lively discussion about a specific topic. Not only can you learn from others in the field, but you can establish yourself as a leader and expert while gaining new followers.
How does a Twitter chat work? The moderator of the group will post questions for everyone to tweet about during specific time. Everyone who participates in the chat tags their posts with the hashtag name of the group (i.e. #socialmedia). You can search for the group name and read all of the posts associated with the chat. You can even go back and read the transcripts of the chats if you miss it.
Here is a list of some of my favorite chat groups, along with the time they “meet.”
#4change: monthly discussion of using social media for social change (second Thursday of each month from 5-7 p.m. EST)
#blogchat: bettering your blog (every Sunday from 9-10 p.m. EST)
#brandchat: discussion between experts, strategists and those interested in learning more about personal branding and managing their personal brand (every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. EST)
What You Dont Know Can Hurt You
Posted by: | CommentsMany times when working with organizations on strategies to increase gender diversity in the leadership ranks the leaders will say ” lets just get all the women together and ask them what they want”. While this is noble and certainly talking with the women in the organization to understand how they experience the culture is critical it is not “the answer” . One of the most serious issues women face when attempting to advance in male dominated cultures is lack of access. Lack of access to senior leadership, opportunities, information, and organizational knowledge. As a result of this lack of access women “dont know what they dont know”. This also is a driving force in the phenomenon of women rejecting efforts to start any type of program or initiative aimed at advancing women. It is common to hear some of the women who may have be closest to breaking through to levels where women have not been represented say that they are not role models and do not want anything to do with any programs related to women or women’s advancement. This also represents the fact that women “dont know what they dont know”. Best practice programs aimed at helping women to advance are all about business and all about evening a playing field that is not providing equal career development opportunities for all. The uneven field is not something most people can see without awareness raising activity. The women in the organization are in fact often the individuals who most cannot see what is happening and “what you dont know can hurt you”. There are a long list of things that an individual needs to know about an organization in order to increase their value proposition to that organization. The most common method of learning these key lessons is access. Access to senior leaders, opportunities, experiences, assignments, and organizational learning. Without this information our careers are like a journey we take without a map. Most of our male counterparts more naturally gain this very important access due to ease of networking that very naturally takes place between people who identify with each other. Therefore our male counterparts have a map which is a very real and tangible advantage. We may think the road to our destination is straightforward and with steady hard work we will arrive. Little do we know that there are side trips and short cuts we need to know about that we cannot see without access to organizational knowledge. When we hear the lament of male leadership teams ” we would hire women if only we could find any qualified to do the job” they are not always making excuses. Because women are very often taking a less than focused journey without a map- they may not be as qualified as their male counterparts because they have not had the assignments and experiences that they need to be prepared to be the best candidate for a job. In addition, research has shown us that women are very often evaluated on experience while males are evaluated on potential which multiplies this problem dramatically. SO what is the answer to this very significant dilemma? Learn how to build access. Stay tuned for my next posting on this very topic!!
Successful Marketing Strategies for The Job Seekers
Posted by: | CommentsI have several friends who recently found themselves in the market for a new job – and, fortunately, have successfully landed another job. Watching them through the process, I’ve concluded that finding a job in today’s job market can be like conquering a new frontier – and not just because the job market is flooded with stiff competition. The days of mailing in your resume and receiving a phone call to set up an interview are over. It’s actually very similar to the changes that have been happening in marketing your business. If you want someone to notice you, your business, or your product or service, you can’t do things the same old way. Today, searching for most everything from a new job to a new refrigerator begins – and sometimes ends – online.
Now you need much more than just an experience-filled resume, a cover letter and crossed fingers to land a great job. In order to get noticed, you need to think like a marketer. It requires looking at yourself as a brand that needs to literally grab attention.
Here are 3 quick tips I learned from my friends who went from under-employed to gainfully employed.
Generic Answers Lead to Lost Opportunities
Posted by: | CommentsIf you find yourself constantly resorting to generic answers when people ask you questions about yourself – it’s time to rethink your approach. We can so often drift through our day, not even seeing the opportunities in the conversations with others. From the simplest Hey, how are you? to the more complex questions you are asked throughout your work day – how often do you take time to answer the questions fully?
Many try to get by answering in as few words as possible, but in a world where relationships are a key to success, I’m not sure this approach is really helping.
A critical question we so often shy away from giving a powerful answer to, one that can open doors to a world of opportunity, is: What do you do?
I have heard even the most seasoned professionals use the old standard, black and white description of their business. As an example: “I am a financial advisor.” Although you are concisely stating exactly what you do for the person that asked, you are also opening the door for all of the stereotypes and preconceived notions they associate with that title or profession. For many, you would be tossed into the broad category of salesmen and forgotten in their minds. Simply said – the real benefits are being left open to hope (I sure hope they know what a financial advisor does). But in order for action, they must WANT what you have (and it’s your job to make them want it).
How to Network Like a Pro
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer
You’ve arrived at an event that you believe will help you professionally – perhaps a meeting of a business organization or community group where you hope to see people you know and meet new contacts. You are investing your time, perhaps money too, to be there. So how can you make the most of this opportunity, and hopefully have an enjoyable time as well? There are a few tips to keep in mind.
DO’S: To be a star at your next networking event…
- Have a “goal” in mind for the event. Why are you there? What do you want to gain from the event (meeting people, gaining information, being seen)?
- Be inclusive to others even if you are in a group. You never know who you’ll meet and who might know the person standing beside you.
- Make introductions liberally. It reflects well on you as a connector of people, and you’ll find others returning the favor.
- Be conscious of having a pleasant, welcoming manner. Resolve to put away your frustrations from the last meeting you had, or the chaos at home for the duration of the event.
Customize Your Pitch
Posted by: | CommentsWhy do we hate those nagging telephone calls from strangers telling us to buy something? Why do car salesmen have a bad reputation? The reason, I believe, is that the sales techniques they use are impersonal and we often feel that something is being forced on us that we do not want or need.
The fact of the matter is that even if we do need the product or service that’s being promoted, we are so turned off by their approach, that we can’t wait to escape from the conversation. We say, “I’m just looking, thank you” and hope to be left alone or we hang up. Quite simply, we don’t like being told what we need and what we should purchase. Most of us like to make our own buying decisions.
With that in mind, it is important for anyone who is promoting their own product or service to be aware of how they themselves feel when they are being sold to. Very often, we are so focused on selling the product or service we provide, that we don’t take the time to tailor our message to the potential buyer. We don’t take the time to ask the right questions to see if, in fact, this person needs what we have to sell. If we use one generic approach for all potential buyers, we will not make the necessary connection with the person to close the sale.
How Far Will You Go for Networking?
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer
We will probably all agree that networking is highly beneficial to our careers for many reasons. We can gain valuable information, become known, develop relationships, acquire business leads and find opportunities for personal and professional growth. So, getting to know people both inside and outside your organization can be both productive and rewarding. As positive as it is, women often lament having to spend the time on networking activities because it takes away from “regular” work – as well as family time and social activities. And now, to make matters more confusing, the avenues for networking have expanded greatly.
With all the social networking sites, we now find ourselves with increased networking opportunities – and we can be at it 24/7 if we want to. This plethora of options can be viewed as a problem – or perhaps, an opportunity. I believe you have to look at all of the possibilities, scrutinize your schedule and consider your likes and dislikes. Once you honestly look at the issues, you can make some decisions about what might work for you, and then give it a try.
