Networking for Career Success
Networking and career advancement go hand-in-hand in your development as a leader. Where and how you spend your time networking will be largely determined by where you are in your life and in your career as well as where you want to go. Where you are in your career is just one of the factors that you should consider in planning your networking strategy.
Early career networking: Invest in professional associations. Don't just be a member who pays membership dues and attends the occasional membership meeting. Become a valuable member who gets involved in committee work and assumes a leadership role within the association. This kind of participation will help you to build meaningful relationships and will establish the foundation for a substantive professional network that you can rely on for years to come.
Mid-career networking: If you're in the mid-level of your career, it is important that you spend an increasing amount of your time building relationships within your organization; especially if you have determined that you want to grow into a leadership role where you currently work. Become intimately familiar with who the key influencers are within your organization and create opportunities to align yourself with them. This is also a good time to identify mentors within your company who will invest in your personal and professional development.
Executive level networking: Assuming you are not new to your organization, as an Executive, you have ideally built key relationships in your company that have helped you to get ahead. At this point in your career, consider returning to the professional association circuit; not as a member, but as an expert. Look to increase your value to your company by contributing to the discourse in your industry. Not only will this enhance your personal brand, but it will help to strengthen your company's position and presence in the marketplace.
Considering where you are before launching your networking strategy will help you to become a more efficient networker. It will also help you to make the most of the networking opportunities that are available to you.