Fast Five – Network With Specific Intent
January 27, 2020
Creating a professional network to rely on, be a part of, utilize, participate in, provide assistance to others, and all else you can accomplish inside of a network is a valuable asset in life and work. At Malakye we believe in working with purpose and very specific intent. It makes goals visible and achievable. When it comes to networking, there are fundamentals that will help you create something meaningful for today and for years to come. Here’s a Fast Five on building a network with purpose and intent.
1. What is your topline goal? Looking for a job, wanting to hire someone, needing a freelancer, business advice, career growth advice, finding a new vendor / supplier, and other similar initiatives are a good place to start in formulating that topline goal. Once that’s clearly established you’re ready to go find the resources you need to make it happen.
2. Who can help in making that happen? Make a list of the types of people who can assist you and what role that person can play in the process. Why do you need help from this person? Why can’t you make it happen on your own? How can this person help you? Questions like these are useful in formulating what and how you communicate with the people you want to network with and with a specific intent of making it easy for this person or these people to help you. Don’t make it hard for them to help you. Make it as easy as passing a dish on at the dinner table.
3. What do you have to offer in return? Life is a two way street, the barter system is alive and well, it’s better to give than receive, you gotta give some to get some. All of these phrases mean the exact same thing. For the networker, understanding what you have to offer in return for asking for someone’s help or wanting to be connected is respectful of the other person, respectful of yourself, and really helps you understand your own value in the equation. You have to also maintain and offer your own value.
4. Is this something important to you beyond today? This reflective question is a great way to pay attention to your own north star and keep yourself on track.
5. Be real. Anything less than that is a waste of your time and a waste of the time of anyone you want to talk to.
If you’re looking to grow your network by 1 or more today, head to the networking section on Malakye with all of this in mind, drop in a job title or company name, see who comes up, and open up a conversation.
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