Value-Added Network
A value-added network can be achieved through explicit actions to develop, expand, and promote trusted relationships. One successful example is Thomas Powers, the founder and chairman of ecademy, one of the largest UK-based business networks. His passion and commitment to networking compares to none; he is ranked among the top business networkers in the world. Ecademy's philosophy is "Winning by Sharing", a theme of paramount importance. Donna Fisher and Sandy Vilas, of Power Networking, define networking as: "Networking is making links from people we know to people they know, in an organized way, for a specific purpose, while remaining committed to doing our part, expecting nothing in return."
So how can you add value to your network?
Strategy
Over the years my primary networking focus has been establishing contacts that provide valuable job search-related opportunities. More recently, I have expanded my focus to include promoting services and exploring business opportunities. My networking strategies are simple ? contact people and offer a mutually beneficial relationship through shared business contacts, opportunities, and potential partnerships. By connecting people with potential for shared mutual benefits, I am delivering an important service and developing trusted relationships. This is extremely rewarding for me and seems to be greatly appreciated by those I have connected.
Developing a strategy will help you focus on developing your network effectively. Don't be afraid to change your approach frequently until it feels right and you are certain that it will serve your goals and objectives. The key driver is ongoing communications regarding mutual goals, interests, and opportunities, as well as expansion of your network.
Using established networking groups and on-line communities allows you to become linked to people all over the world. Nina Camp, an expert on the subject says, "Linkedin is the best business networking site ? not social --which is attractive to Fortune 1000/500/100 business executives. Recent additions to the site make interfacing more attractive. The ability to send a message from the site when accepting connections is a good new feature, along with the V Card download and the opportunity to endorse immediately." Linkedin,www.linkedin.com, is also my choice, and the on-line business community I use most frequently. To grow your network, initially you may need to be proactive in contacting people who you would like to connect with, but as your contact list grows, people will seek you out and want to become part of your network.
Building Network Contacts
While building your network, you will find that no matter how hard you work to establish relationships, a simple fact of human nature dictates that you will naturally hit it off with certain people, finding common goals, interests, and reasons to connect. This is not to say that you should give up on individuals less inclined to form a trusted relationship, but the amount of time you dedicate to such communications will define the potential for a successful connection. Finding mutual values, interests, and levels of comfort takes time and work. Making an effort to find such common grounds requires two-way communication, without which you will have a void of knowledge and information-sharing necessary for the growth of the relationship. Timing is also an issue and one which you need to keep in mind when you reach out to a contact, especially to someone who may not be as aggressive or interested in expanding or exploring networking benefits. Give potential contacts plenty of room to communicate using their own timetable.
Building and expanding your network requires a plan or set of processes that you can follow repeatedly. The following are some practices you might want to include are.
1) Communicate with your most trusted contacts frequently and share information, ideas, or just an update on your current status. Show interest in their activities, job, company, and common interests. Send an interesting article or information you feel that would be of value.
2) Share new contacts with others who you feel may realize mutual benefits. Provide referrals to others for business services, opportunities, and information, or as a common connector. It might be as straightforward as saying, "I met Joe Smith's boss and he said he knew you."
3) Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to expand your network. If you are just starting out, set a goal for establishing X new contacts a week. When I first joined ecademy.com, I set a goal of adding 50 new contacts a week, which resulted in developing 1151 contacts in a year's time.
4) Be open to new contacts that may want to communicate with you. Connected people like to connect with other connected people. I have never refused a new contact. You will learn that as you continue to grow your network, others will find you and want to become part of your group of associates.
5) The last step in your process is the most important one. Give to your network contacts, expecting nothing in return. The act of giving will earn trust and understanding and demonstrate that you have a genuine interest in your associates. "Winning by sharing." It works, so give it a try.
Those Who Did
As most successful business people will tell you, failures are an important part of your personal and business development process. Don't discard failures, instead learn from them and use your new knowledge to address future challenges and goals. Laurence J. Peter said, "There are two kinds of failures: those who thought and never did, and those who did and never thought." If you don't make an attempt, you will never realize the potential of what you might have been able to achieve. Building network relationships is not a task with a beginning, middle, and end; it is an ongoing process. Network and you will build a valued and trusted contact community.
About the Author
Russ Kovar is a Senior Information Technology Manager from the Chicago area. He has published several other articles about networking and is actively involved in delivering technology and business solutions, as well as building his own network. Russ is also the Moderator for Chicagoland Ecademy Regional Club, an organization of us.ecademy. Russ can be contacted at rkovar1@msn.com. His profile can be view on http://www.linkedin.com
 Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:51:06 GMT Many homers, and pitches, in Game 2 - MLB.com
MLB.com - By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com ST. PETERSBURG -- Five hours and 27 minutes elapsed during Saturday's American League Championship Series Game 2, bookending the moments when Scott Kazmir threw the game's first pitch over home plate and BJ Upton popped its ... Up, up, and away Mike Timlin shoulders blame Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:22:57 GMT Theatrical Review of Body of Lies - DVDTOWN.com DVDTOWN.com - By Jason P. Vargo "Body of Lies" is a certain type of movie designed for a certain type of moviegoer. I think the tagline describes the movie perfectly, actually. Will 'Chihuahua' take a bite out of 'Body of Lies'? Body of Lies Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:19:39 GMT Japan says will tap FX reserve if IMF steps up bailout - Reuters
Reuters - WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Japan said on Saturday it is ready to offer a part of its $1 trillion foreign reserves to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if the multi-national lender is to support countries facing economic crisis. Video: IMF: Timing right for G7 IMF Calls for Aggressive Response to Crisis Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:32:02 GMT McCain campaign's tone likened to George Wallace's - Newsday
Newsday - WASHINGTON - Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and veteran of the civil rights movement, says the negative tone of the Republican presidential campaign reminds him of the hateful atmosphere segregationist Gov. McCain in 'hatred' war of words Obama thanks, jabs at McCain Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:27:11 GMT ARM Holders Would Do Well to Shop Around Now - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Nancy Trejos The global financial crisis has affected virtually every aspect of personal finance, from mortgages to student loans to credit cards to retirement savings. Finance giants reportedly ordered to buy $40 bln of mortgage bonds ... Fannie, Freddie to Buy $40 Billion a Month of Troubled Assets Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:07:17 GMT American space tourist blasts off in Soyuz rocket - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) - A Soyuz spacecraft with two Americans and a Russian on board lifted off from Kazakhstan on Sunday for the international space station. Space Toilet Fixed – For Now Russia launches spacecraft with sixth space tourist Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:11:37 GMT Van driver's work in Mass. aided Nobel winners - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—When two American scientists won a Nobel Prize this week in chemistry, the driver of a car dealership's courtesy van had reason to take special interest. Video: Nobel Chemistry Prize Goes for Jellyfish Protein Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:14:18 GMT RSS Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Ah, the personal touch that continues to make a big... Read More In the workplace - and when dealing with workplace matters... Read More As a small business owner you may find yourself in... Read More What is the problem when people try to describe what... Read More Q: I think I understand the value of networking as... Read More There are people who are natural born networkers - those... Read More Jean de la Bruyere said, "The great gift of conversation... Read More A few years back when I moved to Charlotte, NC... Read More People wear nametags more often than you think. The majority... Read More Right here in Europe, the very last continent to enter... Read More What makes a good interest story?An interest story is just... Read More The StoryWhen attending conferences, conventions, or private events, it's guaranteed... Read More Recently, while providing an up-and-coming Virtual Assistant (VA) and small... Read More Think health articles are boring? This one isn't, so read... Read More Most of us remember the commercial that said, "I told... Read More The StoryAs a child growing up, one of the many... Read More Many workers think that their hard work will speak for... Read More The StoryIn a quest to create strategic alliances, coalitions, and... Read More In recent weeks, I've had the opportunity to pass along... Read More A few years ago, I was attending a family function... Read More Networking ? it's the latest business trend. Or is it?Actually,... Read More My husband and I tried an experiment one night. We... Read More What is the definition of a leads exchange and how... Read More Your nonverbal communication talks before you do. Only seven percent... Read More Imagine you just met your ideal client at a networking... Read More
Adsense
websites
What I Do Is Not Who I Am... The Networking Factor
The A-B-Cs of Networking
Should You Offer Commissions For Customer Referrals?
Practice Makes Pefect
Why Bother With Social Networking Sites Like LinkedIn?
How To Make Your Next Networking Event A Success
Unforgettable First Impressions Part 2: Its All About Them!
Growing Your Network of People Can be Easy and Fun!
5 Ways to Wow People Who Wear Nametags
Networking - Facts to Ponder
How to Create an Interest Story for the Press
Lesson 61 - When Does Aggressiveness Turn Into Annoyance?
Joining Industry Specific Organizations Has Many Benefits
Mother Said - Wash Your Hands
The Power of Word of Mouth
Lesson 14 - Whats In A Handshake?
Four Brainless Self-Promotion Techniques To Avoid
Lesson 69 - When Networking Events Fail
Hows Your Net Working?
Who Are You and What The Heck Do You Do?
Build Your Business through Strategic Networking
Give People Something to Talk About!
What a Leads Exchange Group can do for You
Why Arent You Talking to Me?
The Answer to Your Worst Networking Nightmare
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Network Marketing
Network marketing is the ordinary person's best opportunity to make... Read More
Five Stumbling Blocks To Successful Networking And How To Overcome Them
The ability to connect with people is essential to success... Read More
34 Power Affirmations for Networking with the Affluent
Here are 34 affirmations I have created after studying the... Read More
Come Home Rich - How to Get the Most out of Your Next Conference
Success in your career depends upon how well you manage... Read More
How To Make Your Next Networking Event A Success
There are people who are natural born networkers - those... Read More
Networking for Wallflowers: How to Profit from Getting into the Crowd
The two most common complaints about networking are: 1) I... Read More
What I Do Is Not Who I Am... The Networking Factor
Ah, the personal touch that continues to make a big... Read More
Building Business Relationships in a Roomful of Strangers
You approach a stranger at an association meeting or industry... Read More
How to Get Ahead in Your Career
Bigger Better Deal. That's what everyone always hopes will come... Read More
Joining Industry Specific Organizations Has Many Benefits
Recently, while providing an up-and-coming Virtual Assistant (VA) and small... Read More
Network Marketing Secret: On Becoming the ?GoTo? Guy
For years we've been taught to identify ourselves as reps... Read More
Building Bridges - The Importance of Being Connected Where You Live
As a Young Professional (YP) in the up-and-coming city of... Read More
How to Gain Maximum Value from Your Networking Time
One of the best ways to get business is through... Read More
How to be Known
Why business relationships are formed with certain people?If you go... Read More
Practice Makes Pefect
What is the problem when people try to describe what... Read More
Unforgettable First Impressions Part 1: Discover the CPI
People like others whom they are like. So if you... Read More
Your Front End
While surfing for traffic or browsing your safelist emails, you... Read More
Discover Your Own Source Of Business Leads
Generating new business leads is critical in your success, no... Read More
Land the Ideal Job Using Social Networks
With at least 60% of job-seekers finding employment through networking,... Read More
Growing Your Network of People Can be Easy and Fun!
A few years back when I moved to Charlotte, NC... Read More
Business Networking - Common Myths and Realities
Can we agree about the meaning of networking? I don't... Read More
Are You in the Relationship Business?
Are you in the relationship business? Of course you are.... Read More
Talk Isnt Cheap
The most successful organizations have good communication skills. Survey after... Read More
The Foundation of Networking: Its Not Rocket Science
Commandment 1LoveWhen we choose to simply love, our giving and... Read More
Five Best Ways To Build A Network
I have been working from home on the internet for... Read More
Networking |