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Even if the pandemic hasn\u2019t put your job in jeopardy, growing your professional network is still a vital activity right now. But what\u2019s the best way to go about networking in an era of virtual <\/span>everything<\/span><\/em>? Building connections requires out-of-the-box thinking, says Noah Askin, INSEAD assistant professor of organizational behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no magic bullet\u2026Habit formation and goals are going to be essential here,\u201d Askin told participants in the\u00a0<\/span>recent INSEAD webinar<\/span>, Networking in Our New Reality<\/em><\/a>. \u201cThis is not something you can now leave to chance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Start by assessing your current network to determine whether it consists mainly of strong yet homogenous contacts. As our post on <\/span>relaunching after a career gap<\/span><\/a>\u00a0explained, strong ties give you \u201credundant knowledge\u201d because it comes from people doing the same things you do.<\/span><\/p>\n Instead, Askin suggests we become the bridge between unconnected groups or individuals. If or when you need to look for a new job, Askin says you’ll likely find better intel from your weak ties than your closest connections.<\/span><\/p>\n Does the\u00a0<\/span>traditional idea of networking<\/span><\/a> make you feel icky? Askin recommends reframing it as \u201crelationship building\u201d instead. Focus on cultivating real relationships with people you admire. Curious people are good at forming new ties and at giving and taking value, Askin notes.<\/span><\/p>\n When curiosity is the motivator for meeting someone new, it comes off as authentic\u2014not gross and self-serving. \u201cThey don\u2019t think of establishing new ties as, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m going to network with this person.\u2019 They\u2019re like, \u2018Hmm, who is this individual, I\u2019d like to know more about him or her\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n When you meet someone, try to learn more about their goals or challenges. Instead of pitching yourself, find ways to meet their needs, even if they\u2019re not asking for anything right now.<\/span><\/p>\n Step 1: Set Your Goals<\/strong><\/p>\n Visualize where you want to be in the next one to three years. Identify the people (or types of people) you\u2019ll need to connect with to make those goals happen.<\/span><\/p>\n Step 2: Create a List of Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n Askin recommends you draft a list of 50 to 100 contacts. \u201cWhat we\u2019re talking about here is not necessarily about establishing totally new ties, although they can be in there. It\u2019s about people that you know reasonably well \u2013 contact them three to four times a year,\u201d Askin explains. \u201cIt\u2019s about strengthening weak ties \u2013 keep them updated on what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to take a long shot on someone you find fascinating, adds Askin. Seek out an introduction from a mutual contact if you can. But, he says, cold calling and emailing are also worth a try.<\/span><\/p>\n Step 3: Start Reaching Out on the Regular<\/strong><\/p>\n You can apply the\u00a0<\/span>Kaizen philosophy<\/span><\/a>\u00a0of consistent, gradual change to networking, too. As Askin puts it: \u201cThink of it like going to the gym. If you think, \u2018I just need to psych myself up to do this more often,\u2019 you\u2019re never going to do it. You\u2019re only going to change your attitude by changing your behavior first. Repetition is far more powerful than willpower.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n So, if you connect with two or three people a week, you will have added 50 new people to your network a year later. But do your homework before reaching out.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMost people have an array of information about them online, whether it\u2019s LinkedIn or a social media site. Use that to your advantage. Find out who these people are,\u201d Askin advises. \u201cAnd be prepared with your own story. \u2018I\u2019m interested in x and y; you\u2019re somebody who focuses on x and y and would be really helpful to me.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, Askin has one other tip tailor-made for the era of Zoom. Since face-to-face meetings are now rare, he\u2019s come up with a novel way to expand one\u2019s network: have virtual \u201coffice hours.\u201d Get the word out via LinkedIn or other social media that you\u2019ll host 15-minute Zoom meetings to exchange ideas and give advice.<\/span><\/p>\n Make sure to state your areas of interest or expertise to invite relevant conversations, Askin advises. Also, interested participants should give you two sentences on why they\u2019re reaching out to you.<\/span><\/p>\n For Askin, these virtual office hours have been a huge hit. They\u2019ve also led to conversations with people from all over the world\u2014some of whom he had no prior connection to.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d be amazed at the reach that you can get if you get enough people that like it and start to share it with their networks \u2013 all of a sudden, you expand your network,\u201d Askin explains. \u201cI guarantee there are people around the world who would have an interest in talking to you, whoever you are, about your experience, your background, your expertise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Did you enjoy this post and its out-of-the-box networking tips?\u00a0 It <\/em>originally appeared on\u00a0the Blacklight<\/a>, our weekly newsletter for professionals. At\u00a0<\/em>the Blacklight, we\u00a0aim to illuminate<\/a>\u00a0with every dispatch that lands in your inbox.\u00a0<\/em>If you\u2019re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goalposts closer,\u00a0sign up<\/a>\u00a0today!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n The post Networking During a Pandemic<\/a> appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cFRESH IDEAS FROM THE BLACKLIGHT\u201d SBC\u2019s Weekly Newsletter for Professionals Even if the pandemic hasn\u2019t put your job in jeopardy, growing your professional network is still a vital activity right…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,749,775,243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-stacy-blackman","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t\nNetwork Building 2.0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Askin\u2019s Guide to Networking in the Zoom Era<\/span><\/h3>\n
Virtual Office Hours<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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