Networking: How You Build Relationships

Networking to Build

RelationshipsKathie Whelchel, Idea Consultant

kathiew7contacts@gmail.com MSCSA 2016 Spring General

Assembly

NETWORKING IS:A Win-Win situation“Doing what comes NATURALLY”

but with a FOCUSA PROVEN method of building

relationshipsA Method for Discovering and

Utilizing NEW RESOURCES

NETWORKING IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION

When others get what they want, YOU get what you want!

Learn to LISTEN carefully to find out how you can connect with another person.

Remember that most people LIKE to help others!

Most assistance comes from casual contacts

NETWORKING IS “Doing what comes

NATURALLY” but with a FOCUS

Start a conversation that shows your interest in the other person.

Find a common interest.Ask about their educational or career

goals.Share yours.Identify ways you can help each other.

NETWORKINGis a Proven Method of Building

Relationships: Index card side 1

Write your name, school, where you live & a brief description of something you like and are good at.

List your skills & abilities you ALREADY HAVE that relate to this.

Note the next place or goal that you want to achieve

NETWORKING is a Proven Method of Building

Relationships Index card Side 2:Introduce yourself to someone YOU DON’T

KNOW-ask for their name, school, and some memorable personal characteristic

Exchange information to find common ground

SHARE what you each are looking forIdentify something that makes this

connection a WIN-WIN eventTWO MINUTES for the exchangeMake notes on your index card for follow-up

NETWORKING is discovering and utilizing new

RESOURCES: • Take the StrengthsFinder inventory to

identify your strongest attributes• Create a LinkedIn profile to share your

interests, skills, and abilities with others• Exchange personal business cards to

ensure follow-up• Join & participate in professional groups

to share info and find opportunities

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

• Focus on learning about your GOOD attributes.• Go to

www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/to take the assessment online for $15 • Receive a report of your top five

Strengths & Ideas for Action

A Sample StrengthsFinder Report includes;

• Your Top 5 Themes: (mine) Input, Connectedness, Strategic, Individualization, Ideation

• Section I: A brief Theme Description for each of your Top Five Themes

• Personalized Strengths Insights: What makes you stand out from others with the same themes

• Questions to help you focus • Section II: 10 Ideas for Action for each of your

themes• Section III Achievement: Examples of descriptions of

your themes by others (quotes) Steps you can take to leverage your talents into achievements

LINKEDIN: Your professional profile• https://www.linkedin.com/• Your professional profile is NOT a

resume• Your connections-increase these daily• Your groups- professional & collegiate• Your posts• Your messages

Professional business cards• VISTA PRINT is a great, cheap

resource• 500 business cards for $5.99• https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/

#inbox/1541995b9a9b3d05

NETWORKING with others for common goals:• Find classmates from your college

through LinkedIn• Explore company websites for people

you know• Join my LinkedIn network for

additional contacts:• www.linkedin.com/katherinewhelchel

NETWORKING with others for common goals:

• http://www.lwvmn.org for partnering information & opportunities

• Give a Student Government presentation

• Partner with local Leagues for:– Voter registration and education– Candidate forums

NETWORKING includes FOLLOW-UP!

Ƒollow-up within 24-48 hours or you’ll forget what you promised or needed to add.

Identify actions & information to share with your contacts.

THANK YOU and KEEP IN TOUCH!

• My thanks to Mike Dean and Lindsay Barton for including me in your program!

• Looking forward to continued connections with MSCSA!

• Always available for information & questions.

Kathie Whelchelkathiew7contacts@gmail.com