Next door to you right now is a room with 50
potential contacts in and I would like you to go and find three people to
exchange details with.
How do you feel? Excited? Challenged? or perhaps
slightly sweaty and nervous...wondering what on earth you're going to say.
There are many professions where networking
recognised as a valuable skill in developing a support network and meeting
goals. It does seem that in medicine we're a little behind the curve.
Networking skills aren't just beneficial in business, whatever your goal,
interest or passion, they have a place in any profession. Looking for that
research grant? Interested in increasing the amount of educational work you do?
Trying to drum-up support for changes implemented at work? Learning from other
industries can help Doctors and other Healthcare Professionals understand how to push forward their agenda; level
the management playing field and be the drivers for change within healthcare.
1. Have a clear aim.
- Think about what it is that you would like to get out of an event
or interaction.
- It doesn’t have to be complicated…it can be as simple as ‘I would
like to make 3 contacts who are also interested in x area’.
- This will transform your networking activities into something
constructive and measurable and move them beyond ‘a enjoyable chat’ where
you wonder whether there was any benefit.
- Don’t forget to leave them with a business or contact card (does
the thought of owning business cards make you nauseated? Their importance
and continued relevance is a WHOLE other blog!)
2. Have a structure.
- Remove the angst of wondering what you’re going to say.
- Have a few different conversation starters that you are comfortable
with.
- Work on your elevator pitch. This is a 1 to 2-minute summary giving
an idea of who you are, what you are interested in and why as well as
your vision or goal. This is more memorable than what I do, where I
work and what I want.
- Exit plan. How will you close the conversation if you’d like to
work together, think their idea’s great but don’t have a plan to be
actively involved or spot someone else you’ve been waiting to talk to?
3. Focus on being interested
and forget about being interesting.
- Often a reluctance to network can be based on a fear of
contributing effectively to the conversation or being interesting enough.
- Focus on the above structure and give them opportunity to tell
their story, what are they doing? what’s their vision, long goal? Is there
anything you could contribute? i.e. article you can e-mail them or a
useful contact.
- Demonstrating that you are interested in what they are doing will
put them at ease.
4. Be open.
- Although it is vital to be mindful of your own vision and aims,
don’t forget to be open to other opportunities.
- It may give you a chance to develop further experience or skills
and make further contacts. It is often the secondary contact, not the
primary, that leads to a crucial opportunity.
- Alongside this is the need to develop all important skills such as;
when and how to say no; maintaining your work boundaries; and when to step
back from a project that you have been involved with.
5. Be authentic.
- Be open about your aims of the interaction, even at the start to
avoid the ‘what do they want?’ feeling that can sometimes accompany
networking. It doesn't have to big your big, shiny aspirational
goal...telling someone you'd like their job in 10 years can have a
unpredictable outcome! and yes, I do know people that have tried this
approach.
- Be honest about your ongoing interest in what their doing. If you
wish them the best of luck but are not able to help at present, then
convey that. If you think it sounds good but think it needs a bit of
refinement then that's also okay.
- You can still make a connection, but it will make it clear to the
other person what you’re thinking, and this is infinitely more helpful
than them leaving with the impression that you’re ‘on board’.
6. Have confidence and let go of the fear.
- Having a clear structure and aim goes great distances in improving
confidence.
- Polish that 1 minute elevator pitch. Something that gives the
sense of who you are; what you think is important; your aims and vision.
Try to avoid too much time spent on your job title and where you've worked
unless it really is relevant.
- Kiss a few frogs; don’t wait until that national conference when
you are planning to speak to a Professor about their research…practice,
practice, practice.
- What’s the worst that could happen? And is it worse than not
engaging and missing the opportunity to grow your network?
7. Follow-up promptly.
- If you use e-mail then send a contact e-mail in the next 1 – 2
days.
- LinkedIn is a fantastic way to store your contacts, keep up-to-date
with current thinking, remain visible to them and an easy way to contact
them even if they relocate.
- Act on any introductions they’ve offered and follow-through on
anything from your side, establishing reliability is important if you want
them to consider you a valuable contact.
8. Build your network before you need
it.
- Engaging with the concept that networking is about building a
support of individuals with shared goals and visions is pivotal to this.
- Putting this into practice means that whatever your goal, whenever
it arises, you already have a number of people who are familiar with what
you’re trying to achieve and more likely to be willing to support you.
9. Pay it forward.
- As with anything in life, you get out what you put in.
- Using networking as an opportunity to support others through their
journey is the surest way to succeed in your own.
- No matter how new you are to a certain job, field or subject there
is always to potential to contribute and you will always have value.
10. Have fun!
- Once you’ve improved your confidence by using the strategies above
you can really enjoy networking opportunities for what they are; a
fantastic way to support others whilst moving forwards towards a common
goal.
You never know, you might grow to love it!
Interested in learning more about how networking and other skills can help you achieve your goals?
Contact me at enquiries@transitionsolutions.co.uk
