Seeds and relationships must be nurtured in order to grow strong and bear fruit. After you make a new connection it will need some periodic tending if you want to reap the rewards down the line. Treat your network like a garden. It needs a little proactive care and attention to stay healthy and produce value. This week we focus on three ways to support and encourage a network so that it is active and available when you need it.
Active participation is the key that unlocks the power of your professional network, so reach out and be proactive. The value you get from your involvement increases through active participation—for you and your network. And the more you participate the greater the value. Ask for input. Share ideas and experience. Participation is a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it.
Connect frequently with your professional network to stay abreast of new developments and best practice concepts beyond your core markets. Now more than ever, leaders benefit from understanding the potential presented by new ideas and emerging solutions. A network of experienced colleagues and peers can help you avoid dependence on entrenched beliefs and past strategies.
When you run across a valuable article, webcast, book or blog don’t keep it to yourself. Share it now, while it’s fresh. We all have something worth sharing stemming from the information we consume, the events we experience and our personal insight. You can share one-to-one or make it social. There are myriad channels connecting colleagues and peers, and sharing knowledge helps spread success. It’s not ego … it’s service. And, it doesn’t have to be the NEXT BIG THING. Small ideas deserve a chance to grow, so plant the seed. Share the idea and let your network expand the conversation.
Check back next week for more ways you can build a truly powerful professional network. For a complete list of all 24 best practices you can use this link for a copy of the full white paper. You’ll get a pdf you can save and share and immediate access to the content online.
To view previous posts in this Best Practices for a Powerful Professional Network series, please use the following links:
-
Part 2: Expand Your View
-
Part 3: Accelerate Decision Making
Lon Hendrickson is the Executive Director of the CCNG Magnet Program
