networking

Are You Ready to Try a New Approach to Expand Your Network?

Jennifer is thinking about changing companies in the next year. She wanted to expand her external network, but wasn’t sure where to begin. We started with the basics first. I asked her, “Who are the people that you want to meet with? Certain levels, industries, companies, titles?” Sometimes it helps to narrow down and focus when it feels too overwhelming for people. She answered, “I am a Director now and I would like to meet with more VPs so I can…
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Would You Like to Have a High Quality Network?

Does the word networking imply meeting a bunch of people in a big room for you? The goal seems to be to maximize the number of people that you meet at one time. Think back to the last event you attended, did you add everyone that you met to your list? How many of those people did you have an additional conversation with after the event? How many of those connections that you made are still people that you talk to years…
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Are You Willing to Give Before You Get?

When it comes to networking events, there are those who love them and others who dread them. The inability to do these in person right now has forced some opportunities to leverage technology for networking in a different way. I was in an experience that moved people into breakout rooms to meet and discuss topics. It worked pretty well and I met some new people. As a person who can be overwhelmed by a big ballroom of people all at…
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Monday Morning Leadership Q&A – 4/9/18

Client Question: “I know networking is important, but I just don’t have the time. How can I manage all that I have on my plate and do that effectively too?” Networking is very important to do, but try not to think of it as this big thing you have to focus a huge amount of time and effort on to do it well. Networking can also be about the small things that you do each day, week or month that helps…
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Are You Prepared to Share Your Story?

I was at a chamber of commerce event last night with over 70 booths and lots of attendees. Many people came by our booth and chatted with us about coaching, our new program we are launching and having assessments done. Having chocolate is never a bad thing, so a big container of Hershey’s miniature chocolates on our table was also a big draw. I met people who were already helping people in their businesses, some who were looking to learn…
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Do You Know Your Worth?

I was reading Think Strategically About Your Career Development by Dorie Clark the other day. All of her tips are really good, but the last one in her article got me thinking about external reputations. She discusses the importance of developing an external reputation. I wholeheartedly agree and have shared this same thinking with many people that I have mentored and coached over the years. It does take some time to develop this, but it is so important. You can join a professional organization,…
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Fantastic Leadership Resource Summary – 4/28/17

Welcome to the Fantastic Leadership Resource Summary! This week’s summary includes: creating a personal breakthrough, assume positive intent in others, the power of networking, keys to success, ways to restore your confidence, managing organizational change from three perspectives: the impacted employee, the leader of the team and the organization itself Articles/Ted Talks/Quotes What You Must Do To Create A Personal Breakthrough by Tim Denning http://buff.ly/2oK3EQy A breakthrough is something that changes the course of your life going…
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Are you in a career that you love? If not, then you need to read this now!

I wrote an article back in September 2016 on having an “accidental career.” You can read the post here. I know that was a true statement for me and it happens for a lot of people. You are so busy going through the day to day motions of your job, that you don’t realize it. This is especially true in corporate roles where your management sees potential in you and moves you to another role that needs your help. Sure,…
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Networking Unlocks New Opportunities

Does the word networking have a negative connotation for you? For me, it triggered me a bit. It was like that uncomfortable feeling on the first day of school. Do you remember that moment? You walk into the classroom, without knowing anyone yet and you must find ways to make friends. I don’t know if it was any easier back then, but we all figured it out somehow. Networking from a place of scarcity. Connecting with new people was still…
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Three Things That Leaders Need to Focus on Each Week

I met with a Director about the results of a leadership assessment that she recently completed which included direct feedback from her peers, direct reports and management. In that conversation, we also talked about the feedback that her manager had shared with her… she wasn’t communicating or acting like a Director. She was obviously concerned about the feedback and couldn’t understand what she needed to do differently. We talked about what she was focused on and she shared some of…
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Your Imperfections Are What Make You Perfect

We have all grown up with programming and messages from our families, teachers, media, society, culture, etc. that tell us what we are “supposed” to do in our lives. Some of these messages may include: get good grades, go to a good school, get a good job, get married, have children, save for retirement, follow the rules, don’t talk back, respect your elders, etc. You get the gist of the messages that we have all heard and internalized over many years. Those messages…
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