Pro Tip: Networking Is About Giving
“People want to help people who help them.”
Photo: Smith House Photo
Welcome to our series Pro Tip where we’ll be sharing expert advice on hot-button career issues that are a part of our day-to-day lives—issues like productivity, funding, budgeting, and being a good boss.
Today, we’re sharing tips on an often-misunderstood matter: Networking. Whether you’re self-employed or climbing the corporate ladder, we all feel the pressure to “network” our way to the top. But to become a networker who generates leads instead of a desk full of other people’s business cards takes one simple ethos…
Networking Is About Giving
It isn’t about reaching out only when you want or need something or seeing how many people you can “connect” with on LinkedIn. Networking is about actively helping others and genuinely wanting to do it.
See, when you’re consistently networking and providing your skills and knowledge to other people, you’ll find you will rarely need to ask for help because the power of giving is infectious. People want to help people who help them and if the people you’re investing your time into aren’t sharing the love - then it’s time to find some new people.
Below are a few tried and true habits for being an active and giving networker.
How Can I Help?
Every time I connect with someone new the first question I like to ask is, “How can I help?” You’d be surprised how often it catches people off guard. “You want to help me?" Of course, I do!
When we offer to help we open a door, we make a friend and we learn something new. It’s also where the true connection begins because it creates the opportunity to make an impact on someone else. As the old cliché goes, by helping others we help ourselves.
Make Introductions
Sometimes, all it takes is meeting the right person to take a project to the next level. If you have a connection who’s looking for what someone in your network can provide, connect them. If you think two of your connections would be better simply by knowing each other, connect them. If you think an introduction could lead to some new business for someone in your network, CONNECT THEM. No matter what the reason, help others expand their networks by offering to make introductions for the people whose work you believe in.
Offer Your Time
Our most valuable asset is time, and when you offer it to others, it goes farther than any other networking tip I can give you—especially if you’re self-employed because you’re not only the sole representative of your business but you’re the sole proofreader, manager, marketer, designer, advisor, and everything else in between. Offer up your time to help review assets or be a sounding board to people who are in similar positions to you and build your community.
Stay Present
How many of us feel defeated every time we post something about our business on social media and NO ONE responds to it the way we imagined they would? Be the person who does. Stay present and actively engage with the things people in your network are sharing about their business and ideas. Share their content with your own audience.
Beyond social media, continue to be in people’s lives and follow up consistently. Share articles on topics you think would benefit them, set up a coffee meet-up with another person in your network, and keep practicing these techniques to help make yourself a consistently active and giving networker.
About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.
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This story was originally published on February 9, 2015, and has since been updaetd.
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Five Ways to Find Career Compatibility with Your Life Partner
Don’t choose between a career and a relationship.
In 2019, more men and women are entering the workforce than before, pushing many of society’s antiquated norms. Just a few decades ago, men were often the only ones to venture into the workforce, leaving women to tend growing families and other household responsibilities. Now that many couples are pursuing simultaneous careers, the dynamics of their relationship have begun to shift in a major way.
There are many ways that two individual career paths can affect and ultimately harm a relationship if issues are not identified head-on. If you find yourself recently exhausted with both your career and your relationship, here’s how you can balance the scales.
Discuss the expected “division of labor” in the home.
It’s easy to slip into society’s pre-set roles where somehow the woman feels responsible for cleaning the house and making dinner, even after working her own shift in the field. In order to avoid the frustration that the infamous “second shift” can bring, sit down with your partner and have an honest conversation about what needs to be expected of both of you. By setting expectations, it will be easier to know what you need to accomplish at the end of the day and will ward off those exhausting fights that pop up when you’re both hungry!
Invest in one another’s goals and dreams in the workplace
While you’re each on a different path in your careers, it’s important to take time to support the other’s career and interests as often as possible. This could include going to a networking event with them that may be outside of your comfort zone, or giving them an online class that touches on something they’ve said they want to get better at. By just showing your partner that you support their career—and vice versa—your relationship will naturally grow stronger.
Use one another as a sounding board for career advice
Not too long ago, my significant other and I sat down with a glass of wine and discussed my upcoming performance review. I was going to ask for a title and pay increase, and I was so nervous. After going through scenarios and explaining lessons we’ve each learned in the past, I felt much more confident about my meeting. While it doesn’t always need to be a sit-down discussion, asking one another's opinions about issues that are coming up at work really helps to draw a team mentality that is very healthy for your relationship.
Find ways to include your partner at work when they physically can’t be present
There’s nothing I find shadier than not knowing when a coworker I am close with has a significant other that they never discuss. It’s important to introduce your partner to your coworkers, even before they can physically meet. By sharing tidbits of your life outside of work, you are not only solidifying your relationship with your coworkers, but also making sure that your partner feels welcome when they come to your work functions.
Schedule time to invest in your relationship without work distractions
Whether or not you have conflicting schedules, make a point to set aside time where the two of you are able to reconnect without the distractions of a work phone or even “shop talk.” Spend these moments completely present with one another. Use this opportunity to bring up things that may need to be fixed in the relationship, or discuss ways you appreciate one another’s efforts during especially hectic times. These designated dates will be the crucial part to being 100% on board with your partner’s career while still feeling as though they are also putting the effort into your relationship.
Implementing even just one of these ideas on a regular basis can begin to reshape not only your individual relationship and career, but also push against what was once the “status-quo.” As the years roll by, generational change is inevitable—and so are the tactics we need to employ against having to choose between our love lives and a fulfilling career.
Samantha Rosenfeld spends 40-some hours a week working to promote the study of surface science as the head of North American Marketing for a German-based manufacturing company. Outside of that (and any time in between) she creates content and marketing campaigns for her freelance clientele and professional development website, Samantha Rosenfeld Marketing. Follow her at @FormativeStory on Twitter or @FormativeStoryteller on Instagram.
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Why Fostering Relationships Is Key to Building a Business
Make real connections.
Real success is not only hard won, is rarely won alone. Balancing all those spinning plates takes know-how, long hours, and the skilled helping hands of others who support your career.
What we’re talking about goes beyond “It’s not who you know, it’s what you know.” This is about true connections, the kind that our friends at French Connection know all about.
It’s an attitude we most often apply to romantic relationships— that the next person we meet could be the one to change our life, but the same is true for business connections.
YOU NEVER KNOW…
Remember when your dad told you that story about the guy he met on a plane who turned into his business partner, which in turn led to the company that fed your college fund? OK. Maybe it’s not that exact story, but you hear this bit of knowledge from executives time and again: do not be dismissive of people because you think they can’t benefit you. It’s the wrong way to do business.
In fact, you should be more concerned with flipping the script. Head into every interaction thinking about what you can do for the other person. Over time this creates trust and makes you an invaluable asset, both personally and professionally.
That said, how do you:
MAKE YOURSELF INVALUABLE? BY BEING VALUABLE
We often hear about people who are successful in business finding a solution to a problem the client didn’t know existed. When you’re trying to build new relationships try to answer the question that’s not being asked.
"When you’re trying to build new relationships try to answer the question that’s not being asked."
Tweet this.
Behind the curtain of small questions is often a much larger question that needs answering. If you are able to address the larger issue and get to the crux of what is being discussed in an initial meeting, you’ve built a solid foundation from the gate.
It doesn’t hurt to you look great while doing so. Like in a smart casual outfit perfect for keeping comfortable while making the right first impression.
MAKE CONNECTIONS, GET CONNECTIONS
“I don’t do favors, for favors.” A helpful bit of business advice that applies to building authentic relationships.
Because another way to make yourself valuable is to offer services that are not a loss to you. For example, an email that connects people costs you very little time, but what you're showing confidence in recommending them.
The person you help out is likely to help you out down the line— often without you even asking. You’ll be top of mind as a good contact they’ll want to introduce to someone else. So don’t hoard your contacts. No one likes a hoarder.
SLOW DOWN, YOU’RE GOING WAY TOO FAST
It’s not a country song, it’s the truth. Fostering IRL relationships has taken a backseat to social media connections, but it’s effecting that speed with which we communicate in person.
Divided attention and half-hearted will never equal success. Focus in, put down the phone, and have a conversation that lives outside the social bubble.
THAT SAID, DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Liking a photo or updating your Facebook status is not connection. But there is power in social media and real connections can be made.
Is there someone on Instagram that you follow that you could see yourself potentially working with one day? Go beyond the like button and DM with a short message about how you admire their work, give a small elevator pitch, and sell them on a small idea that you could collaborate on. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Trust.
FINALLY. BE AN EXPERIENCE, WOMAN. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
It’s a concept that we find easy to apply to brands. “Be an experience brand.” You should think of your business self in the same capacity. You want to give people the experience of you that’s accurate, honest, innovative and dynamic. You want to ensure that you are amplifying every opportunity given to you to make for a great business opportunity in a smart way.
Don’t FCUK this up. Or rather, do. And make the connection.
French Connection + Create & Cultivate want you to look your best when building key business relationships. Which is why we’ve teamed up to giveaway a $500 shopping spree with FCUK. To enter fill out the below and go meet someone new today. Sure we have no way of checking if you do, but it’s only to your benefit. Contest ends Friday, April 29th. 11:59pmPST.
This giveaway has closed.
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