Before entering the workplace, many people have already heard the importance of establishing connections, but where should they go to find them? For example, a junior employee wants to get advice about moving into a management position. I want to find people in related industries or who are already executives, but I don't know where to start. Here are the suggestions from "MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact".
1. Show professionalism through social media
Social media is an important channel for building connections in modern times, so this employee can share his or her personal background, interests, values, ongoing projects, or put forward opinions on management issues through platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn, thereby allowing potential connections to Get to know him, know that he is interested in promotion to supervisory positions and management work, and he also has relevant knowledge.
In addition, the employee also needs to prepare a concise resume, using 3 to 6 sentences to show his expertise and the value of contact with him, such as past experience, current position and future ambitions. After you have rich work experience, you can change it to a detailed self-introduction version of 2 to 4 paragraphs. Afterwards, find a trusted partner who is good at giving feedback and practice introducing yourself in 2 minutes.
2. Ask for referrals from existing connections
The employee also needs to take inventory of existing contacts, including family members, childhood friends, classmates at various stages, or friends with common hobbies or work acquaintances. Think about the backgrounds of these relatives and friends, and whether they know the person who is now a supervisor. people. After identifying the right candidate, politely request a 15-20 minute conversation, state the purpose, and ask relatives and friends to introduce their connections. For example, ask the other person, "Thank you for meeting me, and I hope we can keep in touch. I'm also curious, is there any Who do you think I should get to know?"
If they are willing, they can follow up on the follow-up development after 2 weeks. If there is still no follow-up, try to mention the introduction to the other party again, and proactively ask, "If it is convenient, I will be happy to contact the other party directly and send you a copy."
3. Master the appropriate contact frequency
After you meet a new friend who has a similar background and is a director of a company, you need to keep in touch with them at the right pace and let the relationship develop naturally. "MicroSkills" states that there are different levels of interpersonal relationships. For example, core contacts will contact you multiple times a day or every week, while remote contacts will only contact you when they have specific goals or needs.
It is imagined that network management requires regular meetings, but this is often difficult to achieve or unnecessary. You can refer to 3 principles, including whether there is an urgent need, the availability of both parties, and whether each meeting can inspire or affect your life.
4. Share connections to build lasting relationships
Since most of the connections you establish are friends of friends or indirect connections, introducing your connections to others is also an important part. "MicroSkills" points out that the other person will remember the kindness and will be more likely to reciprocate when asking for help in the future. On the other hand, being generous helps keep each other connected while projecting a positive image.
As a result, the employee can slowly build a diverse network that includes people from different backgrounds and industries. When communicating with friends, ask them about their network needs in a timely manner. If you decide to help introduce people, first consider the time and ability of the network, and ask the other party if they are willing to be introduced. Try to use 1 to 2 sentences to highlight the important backgrounds of both parties, and then inform all parties that they can contact each other and allow them to communicate in depth on their own.
