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September 2006: Manage This … Networking

What helps you get promoted, obtain more interesting work, and do better at your current job? Networking! It’s not a dirty word. It used to evoke images of smarmy sales people to me. However, I have come to learn that it is crucial to your success in business. Simply put, networking is growing productive business relationships with many people. Below are some tips to make you an even better networker:

• View every situation as an opportunity to network. Understand that networking is an essential part of growing in your professional life. I’m continually fascinated by how people have met each other—two women at a recent networking event had met while walking their dogs.
• Use tools to make networking easier. Take advantage of your alumni associations, trade associations and websites such as www.linkedin.com or www.ryze.com.
• Realize that networking is a two-way street. Understand what you have to offer people in your network. It might be introducing them to someone you know or sharing your expertise on a topic.
• Most importantly -- follow-up is key to successful networking. This separates the best networkers from the mediocre ones. After you have met someone, enter their information in your database and contact them soon. Keep in touch on a regular basis. Put it on your calendar to contact them regularly and send out some annual correspondence to everyone on your network list.

Once people get past the perception that networking is a chore, it can be seen as a fun activity. Even if you are good at networking, take one step this next month to improve it—ask someone to lunch who you might not have met yet, but want to get to know; go to that alumni event and follow-up with the people you met or do something as simple as checking out www.linkedin.com (my personal favorite!)

To get one-on-one coaching or training and learn more specific ways to network effectively, contact Kerrie Halmi at Halmi Performance Consulting: kerrie@halmiperformance.com or 510-336-0654.

Manage this …all managers use negotiation skills in their job—it’s much more than union contracts or salary discussions. Learn how you can increase your success through better negotiation. More details right here in October.

Please pass this to others who would benefit from it.

If you want specific references for any of the material, please let me know.

About the Author: Kerrie Halmi is a coach and facilitator specializing in people management skills. Her passion is increasing women’s success in business. See www.halmiperformance.com

Past articles are on www.halmiperformance.com Terms of Reprint: You have permission to publish this article in your newsletter, e-zine or on your website as long as you print the entire article, unchanged and include the copyright and “About the Author” information (Resource Box) and all links. Please e-mail Kerrie@halmiperformance.com to let the author know where and when the article will appear.

My e-zine was selected to appear in BestEzines.com—see http://bestezines.com/?id=1707 Write a review!

Based on the highly successful six week leadership development course for women and feedback that women wanted more time to focus on the content and more one-on-one coaching, we have expanded the Professional Women's Dream Team into a 9 month program, with monthly half-day facilitation during the workday and monthly one-on-one coaching sessions. We have some great companies already signed up—eBay, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, Irwin Home Equity and Camico Insurance. There is still time to register!

We're launching two programs in October-- one in Oakland and one in Redwood City. See www.ProfessionalWomensDreamTeam.com for more details. Register by contacting info@evergreenleadership.com or by calling (510) 336-0654.

I’m speaking at Northern California Human Resources Association (NCHRA) on Wednesday, October 11 about Coaching for HR and Business Leaders. Go to http://www.nchra.org/source/meetings/cMeetingFunctionDetail.cfm?PRODUCT_MAJOR=WK60122§ion=events to register.