Effective Networking
– Musings of Dr. Jamie C. Hsu, 4.22.2018
You see people handing out stacks of business cards at various gatherings, or posting numerous selfies on social media. They think they are networking for their business or career. Are they? Let’s take a deeper look at the objectives, approaches, and best practices of networking.
4 Objectives of Networking:
The purpose of networking is more than just chit-chat or having a good time. You should use these opportunities to exchange information and knowledge, to discuss concepts and thoughts, to establish emotional connection, and to form new relationships.
3 Approaches for Networking:
Networking is undoubtedly an important aspect of building a career and growing a business. Depending on your reasons for networking, you can take several different approaches.
If you are happy with your current job and only want to seek “linear progression” in your career, then you should go to professional events to learn the latest advancements from the experts in the field.
Or, if you are an entrepreneur looking for new ventures, then you should talk with people in different fields with different circles of contacts. This approach will help you leap into “directional expansion” to start a new career or business.
And lastly, maybe you just want to expand your social sphere. Then your goal is to find people with interesting and unique backgrounds, experiences, or ideas. You can join various study or hobby groups to grow your diverse network.
2 Best Practices in Networking:
Regardless of your personal objectives for networking, here are two practices to keep in mind that will make your endeavor worthwhile and yield positive results.
When you meet people, be sure to make them feel important. Listen attentively and inquire politely. Often, people won’t remember what you said, but they’ll remember how you made them feel. You can bond with others through common background, acquaintances, and interests to build credibility and trust. But be careful not to overdo it and bore others with all the details of your own story.
After the initial contact, try to follow up and cultivate the newly acquired friendship. Send people a note, share additional information, or have a coffee chat to strengthen the new relationship.
Practice all of the above, and you will grow a strong and effective career and business network.
建立有效的人際網絡
–作者 許俊宸博士
–中譯 薛乃綺
你也许常看到人們在各種聚會場合發放名片、或在社交網站上張貼許多的自拍照片。他們認為自己正在為業務或事業建立人際網絡，不過真的是如此嗎？讓我們一起更深入地了解一下網絡的目的、方法以及最佳的實踐。
網絡的4個目的：
網絡的目的不僅僅只是閒聊、或找開心。你應該善用這些機會來達到 知訊交流、思想交鋒、情懷交往、以及人脈交際 这些目的。
網絡的3種方式：
網絡無疑是建立事業和拓展業務的重要面向。依據你所需要的網絡的緣由，你可以採用不同的方式。
如果你對目前的工作感到滿意，而且只想讓你的職涯朝向”線性發展”，那麼你可以參加專業活動來了解這個領域的專家最新的進展。
又或者，你是個尋找新創事業的企業家，那麼你可以與不同領域的人交流，接觸不同圈子的事物。這種方式能讓你躍進”新定向擴張”的企業發展策略，開始新的職涯或事業。
最後一種，你也許只是想擴大你的社交領域，那麼你的目標就是找到有趣的人，以及具有獨特背景、經驗或想法的人。你可以加入各種學習或興趣培養的小團體，以此來發展自己多元化的網絡。
網絡的2種最佳實踐：
無論你個人的網絡目標是什麼，請牢記兩件事情，這將會使你的努力不但值得、而且能有成果。當你跟對方碰面時，一定要讓他們感覺到他們很重要，被你重视；要仔細地聆聽、並且禮貌地詢問。通常，人們不見得會記得你說了什麼，但卻會記得你給他們的感覺。你可以透過共同的背景、熟人、或興趣與對方取得共鳴，建立彼此的確認與信任。不過也要小心不太過誇張，別讓對方覺得你細數的陳年往事「無聊、沒營養」。初步接觸後，要嘗試再繼續培養這份新的友誼；像是送個短訊、分享一些訊息、喝個咖啡聊聊天等等。
不防試試上述的方式，應該可以幫助你養成強大且有效的人際和業務網絡呢！
