The art of networking

Is there an art to good networking and is it a skill which can be taught?

I attended Umbrella last week and I began to question how good at networking I actually am. This question arose as I "people watched" - how they mingled and introduced themselves to new colleagues over tea's and coffees.

I will be honest and really wanted to put spots on everyone in the room, so that I could analyse how they "worked a room", moving around saying hello to people they know and to those they did not know.  Just to find out what are the best ways to introduce yourself and in some case find connections who are going to help you. I know that this may sound a bit prentious, but conferences/meetings/events are an excellent way to find people who you could ask for help or support in your working/professional career. For example, you have set up RFID how did you find it? Do you use this supplier - were they any good?

So thinking about networking, I decided to come up with my top tips -although feel free to add or argue against them. Or what I normally end up doing:)

1. Smile - you will be surprised just how many people will say hello and ask where you are from
2. Ask a question - which seminar are you planning on going to? where are you from?
3. Talk about things which interest you - don't lie, it may come back to haunt you
4. Have a business card ready - just in case you find something which you want to follow up after, these can be quite easy to purchase, mine came from moo.com

Over the two days of the conference, I was surprised as to how many people I recognised - although I will admit a couple of people said hello to me and I was not sure where I had met them! (but I am going to discuss this more in my next blog post).

Also, networking is a great way to met new people and extend your network as well as dinner table mates -

Mandy, Laura, Donna, Emma, Me and Jo

After many years of organising events and attending them, I believe that it is a skill which you get better at the more you practice. If you are a bit nervous, do a bit of people watching and see how others do it.

Don't be afraid to go and speak to people - because for one you do not know who you are going to meet and how you can benefit from them!

First post

So with nervousness I am creating my first public blog, there are a number of reasons for why I have not started one before. I suppose the main one is that I have dyslexia and therefore my spelling (although greatly improved by spellchecking) maybe not always be great and the same goes for my grammar. So please forgive any mishaps.

This year as part of the CDG National Co-oridnator's role, I helped to organise the New Professional Conference 2011, and it was here that I came across CPD23. This I thought was an excellent idea, for  a number of reasons,

1. It is a manageable way of undertaking CPD, as you can be flexible in when you can undertake the tasks.
2. It gives you the chance to experiment around colleagues and peers, so I am hoping to learn and get more confident in using these new technologies

I am going to be undertaking this as a way of keeping up to date with new technology and I am hoping to learn new skills. As well as following others, learning works and what does not. I am hoping that it will give me a chance to express my own opinions and develop my writing skills, something that Suzanne Wheatley commented on during her workshop.

I am also planning to undertake my revalidation and this would be an excellent way of being reflective and having all my thoughts in one place.

Looking forward to all of the activities and finding out new ways of doing things.
until next post
Nicki