C3 – Growing your Network…Part 2

In today’s C3 meeting, Deborah helped us uncover and develop our expectations from networking events. Some Take-Aways:

If your focus is on yourself, networking won’t be as effective as it could be.

You should always go into a room with an agenda. (Are you going to WAIT or ASSERT?) What are your goals for the networking event? Our group came up with a variety of agendas such as

• To build connections
• To show value
• To be a resource
• To build trust
• To find resources
• For community engagement
• Referrals
• Long term investment, building on that relationship
• To be a listener and learner

As you are thinking about your agenda, consider whether you are going to the networking event to be LIKED or to be LINKED. Networking is work, not a cocktail party.

Deborah ended the meeting with a homework assignment (geez, I thought I was done with those.)

HOMEWORK:  Pay attention to yourself in networking opportunities:

• Are you waiting or looking to see if there are ways that you can step in and serve?
• Am I taking the time to really make sure that I am trying to LINK vs just wanting to be liked?