1. Networking A-B-C’s For those who think in Critical Paths
Project Management Institute
Networking A-B-C’s For those who think in Critical Paths
Julia Holian
Sales, Recruiting & Operations Management /

2. WHAT IS NETWORKING?
Networking is a way to create, build and maintain personal and professional relationships with those who have complementary skills, careers and interests
Networking, if nurtured correctly, is a means to identifying people whom you may benefit and others who may be of benefit to you
Networking is a forum to ask for help, when needed
Networking is a way to help others

3. WHAT ISN’T NETWORKING? It is NOT a PERT Chart It is NOT a flow chart
It is NOT a one-way street, it’s an intersection
If you ask people to help you, be prepared to give help

4. WHY BUILD A NETWORK? People of similar interests Reconnecting
Personal
People of similar interests
Reconnecting
Alma Mater
Former Colleagues
Win friends and influence people
Satisfaction
Giving
Receiving
Professional
Your next job
How Visible Are You?
Your next employee
Hire someone who’s known or recommended
Your next client
Your next boss
References
For you and the people you hire

5. Where to start building a network
Websites
LinkedIn (Post your skills and interests; build your reputation)
Facebook
Where you spend your time or have the most interests
PMI Meetings
Work
Neighbors
Church
Sports
College Alumni Associations (may be online or at functions)

6. Where to start building a network
At work
How well do you know your team?
What’s their background and interests
Who’s in their network?
How well do you know other departments?
How well do you know your client’s or vendor’s team?
At play
Who do you go bowling with?
How well do you know the parents of your kid’s friends?
What do they do?
How well do THEY know what YOU do?

7. What do you know about who you know?
Gather some information beyond name, company and job
Try to remember it
Develop a system for storing it
Outlook
Act!
Excel
Rolodex
What ever works for you!

8. Julia’s System for Network Management & Contact Data Retention
Business cards + Outlook + Cell Phone + Rolodex =
“I know who to call”

9. Business Card On the back, write at least three basics:
Where/when you met the person
Date & Place
Description of person or something to jog your memory
Hair color/style, clothes, something they said or did
3 facts not on the card
Don’t put that card away in your rolodex (or a drawer) – just yet!

10. Outlook Outlook (at first) Transfer data from business card
Write notes
Categories
Work, personal, christmas card – or create a new one
Sort contacts by categories to send targeted s
Details tab (birth date, boss’ name, spouse’s name, profession)
Outlook (iterative)
Last contact date
Interests / hobbies
Anybody you connect them with

11. Cell Phone Back up your data to your cell/smart phone
Convenience to make on-the-fly edits to contact information
Touch base with your network during down time
In between appointments or meetings
Be ready and able to help somebody because your contact’s information is right there

12. Rolodex NOW you can put that card away in your rolodex
Third back-up system
Unhackable, untraceable
Good visual tool to refresh your memory

13. You have a network, now what?
Stay in touch, as appropriate
Birthday s / cards
Anniversary s / cards
Holiday s / cards
Acknowledge changes, successes, etc.
Call occasionally to touch base

14. Give as well as receive
Connect people within your network to each other
Match needs with needs
Match needs with skills
Match personalities
Match Interests
Add value to your network
Invite to a function
Share an article or a white paper
Champion website tools (portals, chatrooms)

15. What NOT to do DON’T SELL SELL SELL Don’t be creepy
Yourself, your product, whatever
Don’t be creepy
DO respect boundaries
Don’t ignore requests from your network
If you can’t help, say so, but don’t ignore
Don’t treat every contact the same

16. Final Thoughts
Networking is a necessity no matter what you do or who you are. Skills are good. Friends are better.
Use a system that works for you, not what works for somebody else
High-Tech should equal High-Touch
Give as well as receive (have I said that enough?)