Professional Networking offline and online - A Primer

Ovidiu Bujoreanwww.linkedin.com/in/bujorean

Chisinau, Moldova, July 15, 2011

Session Outline Session introduction.

◦ Personal intro◦ Why professional networking? ◦ How would this benefit you?

Professional Networking◦ When and where?◦ How to make friends?◦ Who does it? What to do?

Offline networking. At events. Wing-men strategy.

Online networking. Linked in. Twitter. How to build it?

Tech tools to network better and build your network

Additional resources Questions

Personal intro

Session Introduction

Ask or remind yourself:

1. What are the objectives of my venture?

2. What do I hope to accomplish during this event?

3. How can I get there?

Session Introduction

This session will help you to:1. Identify people that you should talk to2. Establish contact and speak with them at

an event3. Follow up with them promptly after the

conversation4. Learn or expand the use of linkedin and/ or

twitter.

This session assumes you:5. Developed your elevator pitch. 6. Prepared your presentation materials. (biz

cards, ppt.)

7. Will do your homework before you attend an event.

Professional Networking

Why building a network?

When and where?

How to make friends?

Who does it?

What to do?

Why actually do it? Few reasons…

Networking – helps you achieve your

goals.

Events – high concentration of

resources.

Every person you meet – impacts

your life.

Work smarter and harder. Not

alone…

Build access to resources ($, talent,

ideas)

Develop partnerships & get

customers

Learn & accelerate growth

When and Where?

When? Build it before you need it. a. Be proactive. b. Focus on quality contacts.

Where? c. Offline events: conferences,

training programs, seminars, etc. d.Online: linkedin.

How to make friends?SmileRemember& use the person’s name often

Seek to help first. At least offer to help.

Be a good listenerBe genuineShow your passion for your venture

Be realist about what you can expect

Always follow up on your promises

A must read is Dale Carnegie best seller “How to win friends and influence people”

Who?People you know:a. You. b. Wing-man/ Wing-woman.c. Wing-men/ Wing-women.

People you (should) know: d. Organizers. e. Speakers. Sponsors. VIP’s. f. Other attendees

What? 7 things to do…

1. Objectives. Pitch. Biz Cards.

Look good.

2. Identify top10 people. Prioritize.

3. Research bios. Starters.

Outcomes.

4. Befriend &brief organizers

&wingmen.

5. Get introduced or introduce

yourself.

6. Interact with your top 10 people.

7. Effective thank you note and

follow up.

At the event/ reception

At the event/ receptionArrive early

Check the name tags

Be nice to the host. Why?

Locate the best food

Know the people you want to meet

Carry water is power

Deliver value to anyone you meet

Be a network resource. Connect people to other people

Networking at events. Stories.

1999 Jim Bagnola, The Leadership Group

1999 State of the World Forum, Tom Ekin

2003 Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum,Carole

Grodzins

2006 HKS Leadership Conference, Frances Hesselbein

2007 New Zealand, MIT Sloan Project

2008 MIT CIO Symposium Wing men in action

2009 Sam Leblanc, Irish student

Trimeca ReceptionYour Objectives:

1. Procure the list of attendees.

2. Select your top 7 people to speak with.

3. Research them briefly if you can.

4. Recruit your wing-man and brief him or her.

5. Generate 3 follow up coffee meetings.

Trimeca - Positioning at event

1. Arrive earlier and offer help to the organizers.

2. Check the badges and the list of attendees.

3. Write the names of key people on back of biz

card.

4. Get into a good mood.

5. Offer to bring drinks to people.

How to follow-up effectively

Write thank you note the same evening of meeting.

Email/ letter should:- Be brief and to the point- Contain 3 ideas (thank you for your time, one

idea from the conversation, request for a follow up coffee meeting)

For VIP’s, a handwritten thank you note is better.

For peer attendees – if you had a good conversation, linked in

Where do I start building my net?

Know your medium term goals.

Start with your resume.

Identify most important events/ programs and people that attended same events.

Create a list with 20 people you would like to connect

Find the super-connectors and become their friend

Do’s and Don’ts on linkedinDo’s Don’tsBuild your profile Choose quality over quantity

Build your organization profile

Accept invites from people you know

Grow and monitor your network

Remove people you don’t know

Get recommendations

Participate in groups and answers

Recruit the right people

Use linked in mobile on the go

Linkedin navigation - example

Additional resourcesBooks: - How to win friends and influence people – Dale

Carnegie- Never Eat Alone - Keith Ferrazzi - Power Networking – Donna Fischer

Tools: Linked in, Learn that name, Bump/ Dub, Gwabbit

People hubs: organizers, trainers, VIP’s.

Personal Coaching: to build your network support system

Wrap-upPeople you meet can impact your work.

Preparation before event makes all the difference.

Working with a wingman makes your life easier.

Effective follow up is critical.

Linked in and Twitter can help you build your net.

Stay in touch with your new friends. Update them.

Questions?

CONTACT INFORMATION:Email: ovidiu_bujorean@sloan.mit.edu Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bujorean Twitter: ovidiubujorean