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Written by Abby Kohut
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 Last night marked the one year anniversary of my leadership role in the NYC HR networking group, Whine & Dine. It also happens to be the same night that Fox 5 TV came to visit our group to tape a segment on networking and career development - a nice anniversary present for me :<) As I look back on the past year, I think of all the wonderful lessons I have learned about networking… lessons that you can't learn in a book or a classroom… you have to experience them for yourself.
Click HERE to watch the Fox 5 News clip!
Although these lessons may seem basic, they are extremely powerful: - Help everyone you can, even if you don't think have the time to at first.
Each time that you help someone you are changing their world, and in some cases, you are changing their world drastically for the better. If you give them one interviewing tip that helps them land the job of their dreams, you have changed their life. Happy people tend to be more willing to help more people. If everyone in the world starting helping each other, can you imagine how much richer our world might be? I can.
- Networking is not just for Not Working.
Everyone at every age has challenges. They can be health related, money related, school related, relationship related, job related, etc. I used to think that going to a networking event was about job searching. As my friend Jerome Laday says so eloquently, "Networking is not just for Not Working". I have learned over the past year that networking is about friendships. Sharing your challenges with other people makes you realize how much you have in common. You don't have to share them with the entire group, but you may want to develop a small group of networking friends to confide in. Sharing enhances relationships and improves the feeling of community within the group. Everyone needs help sometime with something. Be willing to share and be willing to help.
- Become a resource for the group.
Everyone is an expert at something. Determine what you are good at and then share it with the world. Bring your expertise to your networking group and teach people about what you know. Becoming a resource turns you into a leader and leaders tend to climb the ladder more rapidly in corporate America. Spread your wings and try leadership on for size. If your group already has a leader, offer to assist with membership or with program planning. Leaders always need help and if they lead by example, you may have found yourself a mentor. Then, when you're ready… step up to the plate and start swinging. You may even decide to form your own group some day.
Absolutely Abby’s Advice:
The lessons that I learned this year have not only changed the focus of my career but also the focus of my life. Networking can be an outlet for you to share, to celebrate, and to help people with their challenges. This has been an incredible year for me and I thank Whine & Dine for the opportunity to grow and morph into someone new. Give networking a try. Your investment will come back in droves. |
