Networking a starter session

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Networking- a starter session
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A short session to cover

• Why bother?
• How to get organised
• How to start in meetings / social sessions
• At one level this is about getting your act
  together so you have the self confidence to do
  really well

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Why bother now and in first years at work?
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Is there a gender issue here?

• Generally men network naturally at work and after
  work with colleagues through sport and social
  activities
• Generally women network naturally outside work
  with their friends

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Networking has a personal benefit but is also a
business skill

• Effective, agile teams will be
  knowledge-sharing. They use their collective
  memory. They know the capabilities of
  colleagues, and can make the most of each others
  expertise.
• Networking can help you to understand the big
  picture and thereby help to make wise decisions
  quickly
• Knowing the larger picture can help you make more
  mature suggestions and tackle more senior
  assignments effectively

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• Internally in an organisation, networking is key
  to
• Creating teams and communities built on trust
  and real commitment Extracting valuable
  intelligence. With increasing data-overload, the
  need for networking increases 
• Externally to an organisation, networking is the
  key to 
• Understanding and then acting on market trends.
  As the world changes at a faster pace, the need
  for networking increases. Integrating with third
  parties customers, suppliers and partners
• Networking is important to most business
  functions, not just the obvious ones like sales
  marketing.

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What is networking about?

• Visibility
• Being remembered

Research evidence for the effectiveness of
networking
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• John P.Kotter (1999) What Leaders Really Do,
  Harvard Business School Press, Mass.
• Good managers are good networkers. They make /
  take the time in the schedule to meet people
• Networking is a key skill of successful managers
  and is often overlooked

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• Kanter, R.M. (1985)The Change Masters, Jossey
  Bass Wiley, New York.
• Networking is an effective source of power and
  influence

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Activity

• At a group 2 day interview
• Why should you network?
• Who should you aim to network with?
• What can you offer as you network?
• Make some notes of your answers 3 minutes.

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How will you introduce yourself?

• Hi, Im Jimmy from Wigan, who are you?
• OK but
• What do you want to get across to people?
• What do you tell them so that they say Hey that
  is really cool, can you tell me more about
• How can you be really clear?

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A verbal business card

• Hi, Im Jim a geography student at Leeds but I
  have got really interested in .... and I want to
  so that ..
• Asked about what you do as a part time job
• Im a bar person at weekends.
• Or
• You know how some bars you go in are really dull
  and boring, well my job involves making sure the
  place has a welcome feel and is always a pleasure
  to visit. It is so important in the pub business
  to make people want to come back again.
• Task write a verbal business card for you. 3 mins

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Task

• Pick a partner
• Stand up and introduce yourself to your partner.
  Shake hands, be positive and enthusiastic
• Partner listen carefully and respond. Then
  suggest ways to improve the introduction
• Then swap roles
• 6 minutes

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Managing a first meeting

• Ok you have arrived at the interview and people
  are gathering / with /without a drink
• Put your name label on your right hand lapel
• How do you feel walking into a room knowing no
  one?
• Approach who?
• People standing alone
• Group
• Introduce yourself briefly use your prepared
  card
• Ask the first questions easy ones

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Starter questions

• Where do you come from?
• How is life at university of .?
• What is Leeds like?
• I couldnt help admiring your jacket, can I ask
  where you found it?
• Is this your first interview?

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Networking needs small talk

• You need people to be on your side,
  interested and comfortable with you
• Small talk builds up the comfort zone
• Be interested in what others have to offer
• Talk topics sport hobbies work holidays
  family books news music films

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Create appropriate introductions

• You need different introductions for
  yourself in different situations
• Homework
• Create 3 introductions that cause people to say
  Hey that is really cool, can you tell me more
  about
• For an interview /someone meeting you at work /
  an aunt / someone on the bus / at a club /
  someone meeting you in the uni / .

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Go for it

• Networking is a real business and social activity
• Have a plan
• Keep the contact list of attendees if available
• Follow up people
• Keep track of contacts
• Find ways of keeping up with people
• Enjoy meeting people