红桃视频

The power of networking to elevate your career is a theme close to the heart of 红桃视频鈥檚 new President Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE DL (she gave some brilliant tips at the 红桃视频 Fellows鈥� dinner in Coventry).

鈥淚 think networking is very underrated. I think it should be part of people鈥檚 [employment] contract. If you do it in the right way, you never know who you鈥檙e going to meet that鈥檚 going to make a huge difference to you, your project or whatever you鈥檙e doing.鈥�

So, what are the top tips this savvy networker would pass on to project professionals?

1. Go on a networking course

Don鈥檛 dismiss networking as something that you shouldn鈥檛 be interested in doing (especially as it can be an excruciating experience for so many of us). Instead, view it as something that is so important that you really shouldn鈥檛 be avoiding it.

鈥淓veryone should actually go on a networking course or be encouraged to network at least once a month, otherwise you might as well just be remote working,鈥� she says.

Even if you鈥檙e wedded to the idea of remote working, remember that meeting up with colleagues in real life is something that can鈥檛 truly be replaced. So, if you need help with your networking skills, seek out help from those who excel at it.

2. The three Ps of networking

For those to whom the art of networking doesn鈥檛 come naturally, Dr Thompson鈥檚 advice is clear 鈥� approach it with passion, purpose and positioning (the three Ps, as she calls it). The passion part needs little explaining (capitalise on your enthusiasm for your job, your project or whatever gets you motivated), but the purpose aspect requires you to consider ahead of time who you want to meet, why you are going 鈥� and who might want to meet you.

Positioning is about what level you want to network at 鈥� is it your peers you want to chat to? People younger than you, to find out what they can teach you? Or perhaps it鈥檚 making yourself known to those higher up the ladder?

鈥淚 always think about trying to network up,鈥� Dr Thompson says. Be focused on which networking opportunities you think would benefit you 鈥� and how. There鈥檚 no point wasting your time and energy on events that won鈥檛 benefit you.

3. Use WhatsApp

Networking on LinkedIn isn鈥檛 as effective as you might think, says Dr Thompson.

鈥淧eople will say 鈥榣et鈥檚 connect鈥�, and either they do connect straight away or they totally forget to accept you. I鈥檓 sitting there waiting for them to connect and they鈥檝e forgotten. LinkedIn is dependent on enthusiasm and memory,鈥� she says.

But if you network through WhatsApp, it鈥檚 easy, she explains.

鈥淕o into your WhatsApp settings and there is a QR code there right next to your name, and all people have got to do is scan that QR code and they go straight into your WhatsApp contacts.鈥�

Try it at the next event you attend and see if it works.

4. Listening is as important as speaking

When it comes to effective communication, there is a saying that you鈥檝e got two ears and one mouth, and you should use them in that in order, Dr Thompson says. In any conversation, 鈥渓isten more and talk less, or listen first before you speak. I think that鈥檚 really important as far as communication is concerned.鈥�

Active listening, where you鈥檙e really paying attention to someone and taking in what they are saying, rather than worrying about the next thing you鈥檒l say, takes practice. Not only will you follow up with relevant questions, but it will make you feel more relaxed too 鈥� the other person will feel they have your undivided attention.

5. Connecting is powerful

鈥淚 love making connections,鈥� says Dr Thompson. That means making new ones, but also sharing the ones you have.

鈥淧eople always say, why do you always give your contacts away? Well, they鈥檙e not mine. They can connect with who they want to,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a really powerful thing to do to help people 鈥� if I can鈥檛 do something [to help someone], then I usually know someone who can.鈥�

The lesson here? Not only will you feel good about supporting others, but that help might come back to you in the future.

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Read Project鈥檚 Big Interview with Dr Thompson in the Autumn 2024 issue.

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