Recently, we had a group coaching call on how to increase your productivity – how to maximize and optimize the use of your mental and emotional energy so that you achieve your desired outcome. One of the topics we touched on was a common mistake most people make in their career – neglecting to do what’s important but not urgent.
What’s Important but Not Urgent
It’s that something that doesn’t have an immediate impact. However, if you don’t do it for your career, you will be at a disadvantage in the long run. It’s the task that require effort but if you don’t do it, you don’t feel the consequence right away. In life, a good diet or regular exercise are good examples of things that are important but not urgent that we often put off to that magical “tomorrow”.
What do you think is the important but not urgent thing you are not doing for your career then? Before I answer this, pause and write down what you think it is. Leave it in the comment below if you can avoid peeking at the answer below. 🙂
The Answer is Networking!
Are you consistently building relationships inside and outside your company? Do you have a networking you can tap into for any and all of the following
- help to get your job done more effectively
- advice on a difficult situation or difficult personality
- leads on job opportunities
- career advice
If the answer is no or only sort of, then networking is the important but not urgent thing you are NOT doing for your career.
You are Not Alone
If you do a lot of networking today, good for you! Keep it up. If you are not yet doing enough networking for your career, don’t feel bad. You are not alone. This is one of the common topics on which I coach professionals. This is because networking is not listed as required work in any job description. Most people forget to do it or put it in the “nice to have” category.
However, those of you who network will have a huge advantage in your career. Networking helps you be better at your current job and gives you the freedom to look for new work more easily when you want to make a change. According to HubSpot, 85% of jobs are filled through networking. In fact, according to CNBC, 70% of jobs are never published publicly.
The good news is it’s never too late to start networking. You can always start today onwards.
How to Start Networking
Even when you agree that networking is important, you may not know where to start. I am here to give you 5 simple steps. What I ask you to do is once you read this, decide on one action you will take today to start this process.
Step 1: Mak
e Networking a Must Do – set aside time every week or every two weeks to do some kind of networking activity – even 30 minutes is fine. Get ideas of what you should do in that time. Once this time is set aside regularly, you will build a habit to make networking part of your regular work week. This can include using ideas I suggest below or by reading the many articles I have written about how to network. It’s all about making time to do this consistently and making small progress over time.
Step 2: Create a list of 3 to 5 people of who you want to network with – proactively ask yourself who do you want to get to know
- Focus on people who are peers or more senior to you
- Look for people both inside your company and in your industry
- Look for fit – not just titles. Not all senior people are good to network with. Find a good reason you like them and want to get to know them. Maybe it’s something they said at a meeting or how you see them treat others or how you have heard good things from others etc..
Step 3: Create opportunities to get to know them. The best way is to ask for 1 on 1 coffee or zoom chats. It will give you the best chance to get to know them a bit more and for them to get to know you. Other opportunities includes introducing yourself to the speaker after a talk or meet them at a happy hour or networking event.
Step 4: Listen more than talk – find opportunities to leave an impression. Once you get a meeting, come prepared with some or all of the following
- Compliments – why you want to talk to them. why you admire them or appreciate their time
- Questions – what you would love to learn about them
- Share your passion – what you are passionate about and why
- See how you can help – sometimes the best way to network and build relationship is figure out if there is anything you can do to help them.
Step 5: Follow up with those you click with and schedule regular connects. Not every networking meeting ends up great. I would say if you get a 30% hit, it’s a huge win. This means 7 out of 10 people may be a miss or just a one-time connect – you didn’t click with them or they didn’t click with you or meeting once was enough. Whatever the outcome, always thank them but you don’t have to do another meeting if they are not a fit. For the other 3, however, it’s up to you to suggest a regular connect – monthly, quarterly. Setting a regularly connect over time is the best way to continue networking more easily.
Goal of Network is to Build Relationship
People often say “network before you need it.” What it means is it’s the simplest to network before you hope to gain something from your network. Nobody wants to feel used and be approached only when you need something. That’s not a relationship. That’s being selfish and needy.
Networking is about building your professional network before you need anything. It’s more about you looking for way to help those you meet. You can build up good will as a result.
Work Smart and Network
Networking is not urgent. Your job will not be in jeopardy if you don’t network. However, networking is one of the most important soft skills you can learn for your career. If you want to work smart and have many choices in your career, start networking today and over time.
Your comments: What’s keeping you from networking more? What is the one action you will take after reading this article? I look forward to your comments.
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