Networking involves connecting with people and groups to share ideas, information, and resources. Effective networking requires setting goals to expand your contacts, following up with contacts, getting to know people in your network, and helping others in your network. Developing a personal branding statement, elevator pitch, and networking plan can help you approach people appropriately and get the most value from your networking activities.

1. NETWORKING
Use the Power of a Network to
Ensure Your Success!!

2. What Is Networking?
Networks—groups of people
who talk and share ideas,
information, and resources.
Networking—discovering
connections between people.

3. Business Organizations and Networking Groups
• Casual Contact Networks
• Strong Contact Networks
• Professional Associations/
Knowledge Networks
• Community Service Clubs
• Social/Business Organizations

4. Build on Contacts
• Set goals to add to your contacts
• Follow up immediately
• Get to know your contact
• Stay in contact
– Compliment
– Ask a question
– Referral
– Educate
– Surprise

5. Build on Contacts
• Invest time and effort to help others
• Nurture your own network
• Get outside the traditional work environment
• Bring your network
together
–Facilitate the meeting
of contacts
–Invite new people to
join

6. Approachability Guidelines
1. Don’t intend to sell anything.
2. Set a goal or outcome for the event.
3. Do your homework.
4. Dress appropriately.
5. Wear a name tag on your right side.

7. Approachability Guidelines
6. Have a good handshake, smile and eye
contact.
7. Use “Pause–Part–Punch” with your
name.
8. Introduce yourself with information about
the occasion or the other person.
9. Have an exit strategy.
10. Follow up.

8. Networking Plan
1. My Goal – Purpose
2. What relationships do I
have/need?
3. How do I best access them?
4. What value can I bring? Bring it.
5. Establish how much time per
week to devote and schedule it in.
6. Be patient, but monitor results
over a sufficient period of time.

9. Personal Branding Statement

10. The Elevator Speech
• General target you serve
• Needs typically addressed
• Reference your organization
• Your value proposition – or
Branding Statement

11. Relationship Building Links

12.  Networking Do’sNetworking Do’s
• Be genuine and authentic, building trust andBe genuine and authentic, building trust and
relationshipsrelationships
• Develop your goals for each networking meetingDevelop your goals for each networking meeting
• Visit groups that spark your interestVisit groups that spark your interest
• Hold volunteer positionsHold volunteer positions
• Ask Open-Ended questionsAsk Open-Ended questions
• Become known as a resource to othersBecome known as a resource to others
• Articulate what you are looking for & what youArticulate what you are looking for & what you
dodo
• Follow through quickly and efficiently on referralsFollow through quickly and efficiently on referrals
• Understand the needs of the people you areUnderstand the needs of the people you are
networking with and offer some value to THEMnetworking with and offer some value to THEM
• Try to contact one person per dayTry to contact one person per day
• Go beyond your industryGo beyond your industry

13.  Networking Don’tsNetworking Don’ts
• Don’t fear the ‘big shots’Don’t fear the ‘big shots’
• Don’t corner a ‘heavy-hitter’ with yourDon’t corner a ‘heavy-hitter’ with your
personal life story at a social eventpersonal life story at a social event
• Don’t hand out business cards toDon’t hand out business cards to
everyoneeveryone
• Don’t only talk to people you knowDon’t only talk to people you know
• Don’t waste time talking to ‘Me-ers’Don’t waste time talking to ‘Me-ers’
• Don’t drink too much at eveningDon’t drink too much at evening
events– obviously!events– obviously!
• Don’t expect anythingDon’t expect anything
• Don’t dismiss anyone as irrelevantDon’t dismiss anyone as irrelevant
• Don’t take ‘NO’ personallyDon’t take ‘NO’ personally

14. WE ARE DONE WITH IT!!!