ATD Blog
8 Ideas for Expanding Your Career Network
Thu Feb 25 2016
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Networking has long been an important tool for getting more business using fewer resources, and today’s many social media platforms have only made it easier. People no longer trust traditional marketing methods; they want to purchase products and services that have been vouched for by friends and acquaintances.
Networking has long been an important tool for getting more business using fewer resources, and today’s many social media platforms have only made it easier. People no longer trust traditional marketing methods; they want to purchase products and services that have been vouched for by friends and acquaintances.
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And yet networking is something people often underutilize. Until a few years ago, even I hadn’t recognized the power networking has today. At the time, I was developing training courses that I would deliver in Lithuania and was looking for possible topics. My project director said to me, “You have so many contacts everywhere in the world. Could you help people to become good networkers?”
And yet networking is something people often underutilize. Until a few years ago, even I hadn’t recognized the power networking has today. At the time, I was developing training courses that I would deliver in Lithuania and was looking for possible topics. My project director said to me, “You have so many contacts everywhere in the world. Could you help people to become good networkers?”
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Networking comes naturally to me, but I soon realized that many people do not have that natural ability. In my course, The Art of Networking, I strive to have participants learn how to network by doing it, both in person and through social media. This strategy has worked well; less than six months after the first course, I was invited back to Lithuania to conduct it again, and Junior Chamber International has named it the Best International Development Project in Europe.
Networking comes naturally to me, but I soon realized that many people do not have that natural ability. In my course, The Art of Networking, I strive to have participants learn how to network by doing it, both in person and through social media. This strategy has worked well; less than six months after the first course, I was invited back to Lithuania to conduct it again, and Junior Chamber International has named it the Best International Development Project in Europe.
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Since I delivered the first course, I’ve visited 50 countries on four continents as a speaker and trainer. I’ve also written six books on networking and digital marketing. If somebody had told me when I first started the course that I would do the things I’ve done in the last few years, I wouldn’t have believed them. But this success is largely a result of networking; an initial opportunity often creates a new one, and a new one after that, and so on. Ideally, networking takes on a life of its own.
Since I delivered the first course, I’ve visited 50 countries on four continents as a speaker and trainer. I’ve also written six books on networking and digital marketing. If somebody had told me when I first started the course that I would do the things I’ve done in the last few years, I wouldn’t have believed them. But this success is largely a result of networking; an initial opportunity often creates a new one, and a new one after that, and so on. Ideally, networking takes on a life of its own.
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So how can you expand your network and make it your best asset? Here are eight tips to get you started:
So how can you expand your network and make it your best asset? Here are eight tips to get you started:
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Before starting any networking initiatives, clearly define your personal mission and vision.
Before starting any networking initiatives, clearly define your personal mission and vision.
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Align the content you share in social networks with your mission and vision.
Align the content you share in social networks with your mission and vision.
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Similarly, be careful with what you share online. There are no longer clear boundaries between your online and offline, and your private and public, life.
Similarly, be careful with what you share online. There are no longer clear boundaries between your online and offline, and your private and public, life.
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Consider everyone you meet to be a networking opportunity.
Consider everyone you meet to be a networking opportunity.
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When speaking with someone, always give that person your full attention. You will start understanding people on a deeper level.
When speaking with someone, always give that person your full attention. You will start understanding people on a deeper level.
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Every time you’re afraid to start a conversation because of shyness, don't think twice, just do it. After repeating it several times, you will be a pro.
Every time you’re afraid to start a conversation because of shyness, don't think twice, just do it. After repeating it several times, you will be a pro.
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Create your own story when presenting yourself. People love and better remember those who have a good story to tell.
Create your own story when presenting yourself. People love and better remember those who have a good story to tell.
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Everybody likes to be a shareholder in your success. Be grateful for all the people who help you to grow, and thank them by helping them to grow too.
Everybody likes to be a shareholder in your success. Be grateful for all the people who help you to grow, and thank them by helping them to grow too.
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The lesson I’ve learned from my own experience is this: Nobody reaches his goals alone. They can be reached much faster and with much less effort if you use the power of your network.
The lesson I’ve learned from my own experience is this: Nobody reaches his goals alone. They can be reached much faster and with much less effort if you use the power of your network.
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To learn more from Filipe Carrera about expanding the power of your network, be sure to register for his session “Networking for Trainers: Embrace Opportunities to Impact the World” on Monday, May 23 at 3 pm at our International Conference and Exposition in Denver.
To learn more from Filipe Carrera about expanding the power of your network, be sure to register for his session “Networking for Trainers: Embrace Opportunities to Impact the World” on Monday, May 23 at 3 pm at our International Conference and Exposition in Denver.