You do!!! When I first heard about networking, I was unconvinced. Mind you, I was in new territory, being out of a job for the first time ever in my working career and so unsure of myself. I really didn’t see how this would be beneficial. Then I finally got clued in!
We all have built in networks in our daily lives that we don’t give much thought about. The moms you see in the carpool line. The men at the tennis club. The families you see on a weekly basis at your house of worship. Simply talking to these people, conversing on what you have been doing is networking.
Simply put, by networking, you are increasing the people you know and who know about you. Most people find their next customer or job opportunity via recommendation. How many times have you seen or maybe done yourself, posting on Facebook for a recommendation of someone who does …fill in the blank? Getting recommended by a friend, family member or colleague is the biggest form of flattery. Who else is going to sing your praises other than yourself. Why wouldn’t you recommend someone who has knocked your socks off with their knowledge of their industry. People will most likely go on that recommendation rather than hiring someone cold. There’s most likely a commonality that makes getting into a new relationship less intimidating. I hired a plumber who I grew up with on recommendation simply because I knew his character. He did a great job by the way.
So next time you are at a board or PTO meeting, look at it with a new perspective. It may simply give you a new reason to meet someone new. Leave it to Laynie
