Copyright © 2004-2011 Swift Resolve Coaching. All Rights Reserved.
Swift Resolve Coaching
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Articles - Family Stress, Communication, Relationships
Believing the potential of human possibilities,
uniquely yours
uniquely yours
Networking: Putting the “N” Back in Networking
By Theresa Swift, Mar 13, 2009
Networking. Not fun! Not good at it! No! Those were not the “Ns” I was thinking about. Though called by
different names, networking has helped businesses, employees, and families for many years. Reasons to
network have been both social and practical. In times of economic downturn, it’s especially important to
do. Put “Nice! Necessary! Now!” back in Networking!
Nice. It’s nice to catch-up. How many of you remember times when you met with old friends for dinner or
caught up on the phone, and afterwards had that ‘warm fuzzy feeling’? Time passed, but you realize the
friendship is still solid. As a result of connecting, there are new things you know about them, and they
about you. There may be a renewed sense that you can count on each other, and different ways you can
help each other out. On the simplest level, catching-up equals networking.
It’s nice to meet new friends. As your thoughts expand, interests expand, and locations expand, you meet
new people and enlarge your circle of friends. Networking has a reciprocal nature. You now know many
more people who can teach you, show you, connect you to missing links in the puzzle of life, work,
health, finances, family resources, etc. Give-get. Provide assistance-receive assistance. I know many
people don’t like to ‘ask for help’ and would prefer being on the ‘giving help’ side. I get it. Still, in hard
times, it’s important to put individual discomfort or pride aside and form a larger, communal, neighbor
mind-set.
Necessary. These economic times strongly show the necessity for networking. Small businesses owners
often grow their businesses through referrals and getting established in a community. It’s necessary to
network to survive. The community is tightening their spending belts and will use the services of those
they trust. If you’re a business owner, take a few extra minutes per day to meet someone new. Share with
them a bit about who you are, what work you do, and the type of service you provide. Think of ways that
you can connect them, and help them as a ‘new friend’. Join associations of people who are potential
clients.
Loss of your job might be your mind if you work at a company. A recent client of mine knew he was going
to be transitioning out of his job. He consciously made the time to reconnect with past colleagues,
employers, friends -- via phone, email, social networking. He was able to find his next career move pretty
easily. He said ‘consciously networking’ was a great learning experience for him. “People are willing to
help you. Let them know.” It’s important to protect your network, broaden it, and re-kindle relationships.
Realizing the power, he’s decided to re-kindle, broaden, and protect his network regularly.
Now. Don’t wait. We live in the unexpected. People are your greatest resource. If you’ve maintained
relationships -- even though it’s through brief chats, holiday letters -- when the time comes and there’s a
need, asking for assistance will feel easier because you’ve spoken to them recently. If you’re a business
owner and have been building community relationships, you will come to mind more than some of your
competitors when your services are needed. If you’re an employee, don’t wait for the “right time” or after
lay-offs, make people a priority in your day today.
Networking: Nice! Necessary! Now!
About The Author:
Theresa J. Swift, MS, CRC, is a life and business coach, author, and president of Swift Resolve Coaching.
http://www.swiftresolvecoaching.com/. She works with senior leaders, business owners, and individuals
serious about achieving their "must have" dreams. Areas of expertise include lifestyle, transition,
performance, achievement, relationship.
Permission is granted to either reproduce copy or distribute article so long as this copyright notice
and full information about contacting the author is attached. The author is Theresa Swift, President of
Swift Resolve Coaching, http://www.swiftresolvecoaching.com/ PO Box 3142, Laguna Hills, CA,
92654. 408-835-3713 or 888.794.3801.
By Theresa Swift, Mar 13, 2009
Networking. Not fun! Not good at it! No! Those were not the “Ns” I was thinking about. Though called by
different names, networking has helped businesses, employees, and families for many years. Reasons to
network have been both social and practical. In times of economic downturn, it’s especially important to
do. Put “Nice! Necessary! Now!” back in Networking!
Nice. It’s nice to catch-up. How many of you remember times when you met with old friends for dinner or
caught up on the phone, and afterwards had that ‘warm fuzzy feeling’? Time passed, but you realize the
friendship is still solid. As a result of connecting, there are new things you know about them, and they
about you. There may be a renewed sense that you can count on each other, and different ways you can
help each other out. On the simplest level, catching-up equals networking.
It’s nice to meet new friends. As your thoughts expand, interests expand, and locations expand, you meet
new people and enlarge your circle of friends. Networking has a reciprocal nature. You now know many
more people who can teach you, show you, connect you to missing links in the puzzle of life, work,
health, finances, family resources, etc. Give-get. Provide assistance-receive assistance. I know many
people don’t like to ‘ask for help’ and would prefer being on the ‘giving help’ side. I get it. Still, in hard
times, it’s important to put individual discomfort or pride aside and form a larger, communal, neighbor
mind-set.
Necessary. These economic times strongly show the necessity for networking. Small businesses owners
often grow their businesses through referrals and getting established in a community. It’s necessary to
network to survive. The community is tightening their spending belts and will use the services of those
they trust. If you’re a business owner, take a few extra minutes per day to meet someone new. Share with
them a bit about who you are, what work you do, and the type of service you provide. Think of ways that
you can connect them, and help them as a ‘new friend’. Join associations of people who are potential
clients.
Loss of your job might be your mind if you work at a company. A recent client of mine knew he was going
to be transitioning out of his job. He consciously made the time to reconnect with past colleagues,
employers, friends -- via phone, email, social networking. He was able to find his next career move pretty
easily. He said ‘consciously networking’ was a great learning experience for him. “People are willing to
help you. Let them know.” It’s important to protect your network, broaden it, and re-kindle relationships.
Realizing the power, he’s decided to re-kindle, broaden, and protect his network regularly.
Now. Don’t wait. We live in the unexpected. People are your greatest resource. If you’ve maintained
relationships -- even though it’s through brief chats, holiday letters -- when the time comes and there’s a
need, asking for assistance will feel easier because you’ve spoken to them recently. If you’re a business
owner and have been building community relationships, you will come to mind more than some of your
competitors when your services are needed. If you’re an employee, don’t wait for the “right time” or after
lay-offs, make people a priority in your day today.
Networking: Nice! Necessary! Now!
About The Author:
Theresa J. Swift, MS, CRC, is a life and business coach, author, and president of Swift Resolve Coaching.
http://www.swiftresolvecoaching.com/. She works with senior leaders, business owners, and individuals
serious about achieving their "must have" dreams. Areas of expertise include lifestyle, transition,
performance, achievement, relationship.
Permission is granted to either reproduce copy or distribute article so long as this copyright notice
and full information about contacting the author is attached. The author is Theresa Swift, President of
Swift Resolve Coaching, http://www.swiftresolvecoaching.com/ PO Box 3142, Laguna Hills, CA,
92654. 408-835-3713 or 888.794.3801.
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
 |
|
||
