Have you ever considered your networking ability to part of your leadership strength? If you believe that networking is all about relationship building, then you might see my point of view.
Networking skills are part of the growth and development of any leader. All leaders must gain the follow-ship of people in order to be an effective leader. It’s not enough to be the boss, have the big title or have authority over people. You must win their hearts and minds and help them see your vision of the future. All leaders must be effective with people.
In my keynote talk “Everyday Leadership: Motivating the Leader in You,” I outline the three domains in which you must lead:
- Lead Yourself
- Lead the Business
- Lead Others
In networking terms, all 3 domains are relevant.
- Networking can develop you personally by building your connections and increasing your sphere of influence. The more relationships you have, the more people you can call on to help you. I found this out big time when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I sure was glad that I had developed all of those supportive relationships before I needed them!
- Networking can help you grow your business by making important new connections to prospects and resources that can benefit from what your organization offers. Not too many people enjoy cold calling. Waiting for the phone to ring will not help your business success. You must learn to get out there and network and ask for introductions to the people you need to meet in order to grow your business success.
- Networking can help you lead others by giving you opportunities to show that you care. When you help other people solve their problems and reach their goals, they will become closer to you. You will quickly amass “fans” (real fans, not just followers) who will be willing to recommend and refer you to the people in their network. Networking also affords you the opportunity to mentor others and to learn from others.
Your Networking Goal for this week
Reach out to leaders in your network and interview them on the topic of Everyday Leadership. It is a fantastic way to engage with top people in your network in a rich and meaningful way. Not sure what questions to ask? Click through to my blog post to find out what questions I asked.
Need more help? Listen to my keynote talk on this topic, you can purchase a digital download of the 34 minute audio program “Everyday Leadership: Motivating the Leader in You”
