Networking – Things to Know

By Patrick Wiseman - Director - St.Vincent

 Networking is not just about getting yourself a job. Although networking is still the most effective way to uncover employment opportunities, it is more about connecting with and helping others.

"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”-Zig Ziglar

 Building and growing your network requires you to take action. There is no such thing as passive networking or connecting by osmosis. You have to take the actions that will connect you with others.

“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.”
-Friedrich Engels

 You have a network right now and it’s probably bigger than you think. You’ve been connecting with other people since the day you were born and so has everybody else. Six degrees of separation is the theory that anyone on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries.

 Your Network needs proper care and feeding to stay healthy. You can’t ignore your relationships for years then expect them to come to your aid when you need them most. You must find ways to keep your relationships going.

 Old School techniques for connecting still work. Social Networks are all the rage, but nothing beats the impact of telephone call or a hand-written note.

 Your words and actions leave lasting impressions upon everyone you meet. There are right ways and quite a few wrong ways to connect with people. Choose your words with great care and always act with high-intent.

“If you can’t say anything nice about someone, then don’t say anything at all.”
-Cowboy Bob

 The people in your network reflect on you and you reflect on them too. Often we are judged by the company we keep. Try to connect yourself only to high-quality individuals and remember that your actions can impact the credibility of those in your network.