ATD Blog
Transform Your Approach to Networking to Grow Your Career
Mon Apr 01 2024
Content
Are you ready to launch a new chapter in your life or career? Prepare to network!
Are you ready to launch a new chapter in your life or career? Prepare to network!
Content
Before you groan and say “I know, I know”, let’s re-imagine networks and networking.
Before you groan and say “I know, I know”, let’s re-imagine networks and networking.
Content
Networks are safety nets to catch you, trampolines to help you leap to new heights, and teams for you to achieve your dreams. Think of three people outside your family who bring you energy, joy, and strength. They are your network. The actions you take to engage them and build your relationships are networking!
Networks are safety nets to catch you, trampolines to help you leap to new heights, and teams for you to achieve your dreams. Think of three people outside your family who bring you energy, joy, and strength. They are your network. The actions you take to engage them and build your relationships are networking!
Content
Follow this blog series to transform your approach to networking and grow your career in 2024. We’ll help you:
Follow this blog series to transform your approach to networking and grow your career in 2024. We’ll help you:
Content
Build a network you’ll love.
Build a network you’ll love.
Content
Engage people who WANT to help you succeed personally and professionally.
Engage people who WANT to help you succeed personally and professionally.
Content
Cultivate, nurture, and nourish your network.
Cultivate, nurture, and nourish your network.
Content
Create a world that works better by unleashing the power of networks to help individuals, organizations, and communities thrive.
Create a world that works better by unleashing the power of networks to help individuals, organizations, and communities thrive.
Content
The forthcoming blogs will help you develop your network culture, develop and maintain your connections, network online and at events, and engage in your community.
The forthcoming blogs will help you develop your network culture, develop and maintain your connections, network online and at events, and engage in your community.
Content
To start your networking journey:
To start your networking journey:
Content
Transform your thoughts.
Transform your thoughts.
Content
Set your intentions.
Set your intentions.
Content
Master your mindset.
Master your mindset.
Transform Your Thoughts
Content
Imagine walking effortlessly into a room filled with strangers. You are laughing and smiling. You are uplifting and energizing. People are surprised they are telling you their most personal stories. Some moments are filled with hysterical laughter and, others, gentle tears. Because of you, people feel safe enough to share deeply personal, authentic, and vulnerable bits of themselves.
Imagine walking effortlessly into a room filled with strangers. You are laughing and smiling. You are uplifting and energizing. People are surprised they are telling you their most personal stories. Some moments are filled with hysterical laughter and, others, gentle tears. Because of you, people feel safe enough to share deeply personal, authentic, and vulnerable bits of themselves.
Content
You realize you are networking and … love it!
You realize you are networking and … love it!
Content
Even if in-person networking makes you nauseous, I guarantee this can and will be your story too. How can I be so confident? Because I am a nauseous networker. If I can build a network that provides me joy, inspiration, motivation, and strength, you can do it too!
Even if in-person networking makes you nauseous, I guarantee this can and will be your story too. How can I be so confident? Because I am a nauseous networker. If I can build a network that provides me joy, inspiration, motivation, and strength, you can do it too!
Content
Networking choices are personal. Re-imagine what networking looks and feels like to you. Then, choose who, how, when, why, and where you engage.
Networking choices are personal. Re-imagine what networking looks and feels like to you. Then, choose who, how, when, why, and where you engage.
Set Your Intentions
Content
Networking is about building and nurturing relationships. When you network, you are investing your time and energy in people. Time is a finite resource; clarify your intentions to invest your time wisely.
Networking is about building and nurturing relationships. When you network, you are investing your time and energy in people. Time is a finite resource; clarify your intentions to invest your time wisely.
Content
Intentions specify why you want to build your network. Themes for short-term and long-term career and life goals might include:
Intentions specify why you want to build your network. Themes for short-term and long-term career and life goals might include:
Content
Learn and grow personally, professionally, or as a community leader.
Learn and grow personally, professionally, or as a community leader.
Content
Find a job, mentor, sponsor, or pickleball partner.
Find a job, mentor, sponsor, or pickleball partner.
Content
Find support to care for children, aging parents, or pets.
Find support to care for children, aging parents, or pets.
Content
Engage in your local community.
Engage in your local community.
Content
Be intentional, and think about what you may need, what you can give, and how you can connect people to add value across networks.
Be intentional, and think about what you may need, what you can give, and how you can connect people to add value across networks.
Master Your Mindset
Content
As you prepare for a networking situation, focus on your mindset. Why are you choosing to engage this person or attend this event?
As you prepare for a networking situation, focus on your mindset. Why are you choosing to engage this person or attend this event?
Content
You have a networking vision, set your intentions, and know why you want to network. None of that will matter if you aren’t intentional about your mindset. It influences how you engage people, the energy you create, and what people remember about you.
You have a networking vision, set your intentions, and know why you want to network. None of that will matter if you aren’t intentional about your mindset. It influences how you engage people, the energy you create, and what people remember about you.
Content
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou
Content
How do you want to be remembered?
How do you want to be remembered?
Content
If you are in a transition, you might be feeling sad and mad. You will need to transform your mindset so you can engage with excitement and energy. What do you need to shift to be ready to engage your network with curiosity, generosity, and gratitude?
If you are in a transition, you might be feeling sad and mad. You will need to transform your mindset so you can engage with excitement and energy. What do you need to shift to be ready to engage your network with curiosity, generosity, and gratitude?
Content
When you master your mindset, you will leave every networking conversation feeling grateful, inspired, and motivated to get things done.
When you master your mindset, you will leave every networking conversation feeling grateful, inspired, and motivated to get things done.
Activity to Master Mindset: Highs, Lows, and Gos
Content
Step 1: Setting the Stage
Step 1: Setting the Stage
Content
Dedicate about an hour for reflection.
Dedicate about an hour for reflection.
Content
Find your happy or flow space.
Find your happy or flow space.
Content
Turn on your favorite tunes.
Turn on your favorite tunes.
Content
Capture your thoughts. Use a pen and pad, markers and flip charts, a pencil and sticky notes, or a tablet and digital pen. It’s your life—grab the tools that let you have fun as you reflect on it.
Capture your thoughts. Use a pen and pad, markers and flip charts, a pencil and sticky notes, or a tablet and digital pen. It’s your life—grab the tools that let you have fun as you reflect on it.
Content
Step 2: Identifying the Highs
Step 2: Identifying the Highs
Content
Write down career highlights that sparked joy, growth, and learning.
Write down career highlights that sparked joy, growth, and learning.
Content
Note who was on the teams that led to the triumphs.
Note who was on the teams that led to the triumphs.
Content
Reflect on the challenges you overcame.
Reflect on the challenges you overcame.
Content
Capture elements of these events, why you loved them, and how much you had to learn.
Capture elements of these events, why you loved them, and how much you had to learn.
Content
Review your list. Which items make you smile and realize how talented, capable, and valuable you are? Which capabilities and strengths do you want to build on as you embark on a new chapter in your career and life?
Review your list. Which items make you smile and realize how talented, capable, and valuable you are? Which capabilities and strengths do you want to build on as you embark on a new chapter in your career and life?
Content
Step 3: Acknowledging the Lows
Step 3: Acknowledging the Lows
Content
Recognize the less positive aspects of your career journey.
Recognize the less positive aspects of your career journey.
Content
Write down what aspects of previous roles or environments didn’t resonate with you. Include people, personality types, managerial styles, and organizational cultures.
Write down what aspects of previous roles or environments didn’t resonate with you. Include people, personality types, managerial styles, and organizational cultures.
Content
Identify any negative emotions or experiences from your past job.
Identify any negative emotions or experiences from your past job.
Content
Acknowledge any emotions and negative energy that comes up.
Acknowledge any emotions and negative energy that comes up.
Content
Clarify what you want to avoid in your next role.
Clarify what you want to avoid in your next role.
Content
Step 4: Focusing on the Gos (Letting Go to Go Forward)
Step 4: Focusing on the Gos (Letting Go to Go Forward)
Content
The goal of this exercise is to help you be intentional about your mindset and the energy you want to bring into your network.
The goal of this exercise is to help you be intentional about your mindset and the energy you want to bring into your network.
Content
Let Go
Let Go
Content
Reflect on what you need to let go of. Unhelpful attitudes, past grievances, emotions, or negative energy that might limit future success.
Reflect on what you need to let go of. Unhelpful attitudes, past grievances, emotions, or negative energy that might limit future success.
Content
Acknowledge and release limiting emotions, energy, and beliefs.
Acknowledge and release limiting emotions, energy, and beliefs.
Content
Go Forward
Go Forward
Content
Review your “highs” and what excites, motivates, and makes you smile.
Review your “highs” and what excites, motivates, and makes you smile.
Content
Feel the energy. What kinds of activities, people, and environments energize you? What propels you forward?
Feel the energy. What kinds of activities, people, and environments energize you? What propels you forward?
Content
Now that you know what energizes you, tap into this energy as you network. Let it shape the culture of your network and inform the next chapter of your career.
Now that you know what energizes you, tap into this energy as you network. Let it shape the culture of your network and inform the next chapter of your career.
Content
You are incredible and unique. People want to meet you!
You are incredible and unique. People want to meet you!
You Mastered Your Mindset!
Content
As you network, remember why you are there, relax, and get ready—you are about to meet someone amazing.
As you network, remember why you are there, relax, and get ready—you are about to meet someone amazing.
Content
Remember, you choose who, where, when, and how you engage in networking. Focus on connecting with people who make your life vibrant, joyful, and meaningful.
Remember, you choose who, where, when, and how you engage in networking. Focus on connecting with people who make your life vibrant, joyful, and meaningful.
Content
Follow ATD’s blog for more networking tips, tools, and strategies that will help you transform your approach to networking and succeed in your career. While looking for networking content, check out resources like “ 6 Actions to Grow Your Career and Personal Brand in 2024” by William Aruda . Bookmark this link for job postings and ATD’s My Career page for resources to help you thrive as an individual, an L&D professional, and a learning leader in your organization and community.
Follow ATD’s blog for more networking tips, tools, and strategies that will help you transform your approach to networking and succeed in your career. While looking for networking content, check out resources like “6 Actions to Grow Your Career and Personal Brand in 2024” by William Aruda. Bookmark this link for job postings and ATD’s My Career page for resources to help you thrive as an individual, an L&D professional, and a learning leader in your organization and community.