9. Network like a Pro! - Simple Solutions for Busy Managers.

Simple Solutions for Busy Managers

Network like a Pro! June 2009

Survive the corporate jungle by

linking to like-minded people.

Issue: 9

In This Issue

Benefits of networking successfully

Who should you connect to?

10 ideas to extend your network

Life after redundancy - blog

Greetings!

Almost weekly I hear about another friend or ex-colleague who is either being made redundant or worried as their department is downsizing. As I went through a similar experience in 2006, I clearly remember my worries about the future and my fear of the unknown.

One of my biggest assets was a superb network of friends and colleagues within the industry. Developed over 25 years, my network gave me emotional support, practical help, professional advice and the confidence to make my own future.

So what about you?

~ What shape is your professional and personal network?

~ Can you still keep in contact with someone if they suddenly leave their company?

~ Are you helping others now in case you need their help later?

You don't need to wait 25 years! Here's some great tips to network like a pro(fessional) that you can use today.

Best Wishes,

Sharon

Why bother?

Making contact with people you meet and maintaining those relationships takes energy, intent and skill.

What's in it for you? Here's 7 great reasons why;

Do you ever need to benchmark your service metrics or staff levels with another department or company?
Do you want to hear about jobs that never get advertised?
Do you need to pull in extra resource at short notice using secondments or temps?
Do you want to hear about the issues that other managers face so you can share experiences?
Do you need someone to talk through your ideas?
Do you need to raise your profile with other departments or with senior managers?
Do you want to have another view on a problem that's keeping you awake at night?

Ok, you're convinced! So what do you do now?

Who should be in my network?

Think about who you NEED and WANT to connect with. Start by mapping out who is in your current network - draw a mind map.

Who's missing?

Your network could include;

the obvious - friends, family, team mates
peers and company colleagues (e.g. marketing, sales, clinical, IT etc), global teams, project stakeholders,
your boss or ex-boss
your contempories in competitor companies - med info people are friendly!
"experts" you know
suppliers like database or IT providers
consultants or freelance staff
other professions - lawyers, marketeers, teachers, business owners, artists, anyone!
domestic support - cleaners, nannies, childminders

You never know when you suddenly need help and it can come from unusual places. Our team had 7 new products to launch in 7 months. Our customer contact centre team needed to expand rapidly but we were struggling to find good recruits. Talking to my new next-door neighbour, I found out she was an experienced Clinical Research Executive and was bored looking after an energetic 2 year old. She wanted a part-time job close to home. Ideally, it would be a 9-5 job that was intellectually stimulating without being too stressful. The vacancy fit her requirements exactly! Hannie was a great addition to our team and she enjoyed the change.

10 ideas to extend your network

Be curious about people (without being nosy) - find out about them and their passions. Listen to them and build on common ground between you.
Don't know anyone at a social or work event? Comment on the event in an open way to someone else on their own, smile and introduce yourself.
Make sure you have business cards with you - always. Don't have any? Check out Moo minicards. Not everyone has a Blackberry!
Join LinkedIn, the business networking website - find your friends and never loose contact with ex-colleagues or contacts. Feel free to connect with me too.
Join a Linkedin group and use the discussion forums - check out the Medical Information & Communications group.
Know how to introduce people to each other.
Volunteer! Committees of professional associations like PIPA and DIA always welcome help. You contribute and learn, they achieve their goals. Win-win.
Make the most of team social events. Don't have any? What about bowling? A game of rounders or softball in a park? Team picnic?
Make sure you have an "elevator speech" - that 20 second sound bite about your job or you.
Attend professional meetings and conferences. PIPA have their conference in July and the DIA European Medical Information & Communications conference is in October.