Developing And Maintaining A Personal Network - 1567 Words

Personal Networks By Hannah Paxton Fall 2015 Section 919 Specific purpose: To inform my audience about developing and maintaining a strong personal network and how that can enhance an employee s professional career. Introduction What if I told you the person sitting next to you was going to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company 20 years from now? Then, what if I told you by building a relationship with them now and adding them to your personal network, you could be their president? Building and maintaining a solid personal network now can enhance your career later. Networking is a process that should be learned and can serve as an aid in your professional life. First, I will discuss how to start developing a personal†¦show more content†¦Make someone remember you by getting creative with how you brand yourself and being the person that you would want to get to know. Be in the mindset to talk to people you don t know. If you have apprehension about networking, concentrate on a small pool of meaningful relationships (Yeung, 2009). Let the chain reaction of introducing yourself to someone with connections you want work for you. For every established professional you create a relationship with, you gain about 10 possible connections (Adler, Elmhorst, Lucas, 2013) Conferences are a great place to get your foot in the door. People attending a conference come in with the expectation of networking. Individuals are also more likely to look for networking opportunities while at conferences than go to booths or listen to keynote speakers (Yeung, 2009). To maximize opportunity, obtain a list of attendees and target the individuals or companies you wish to speak with (Yeung, 2009). There are solutions to troubleshoot a bumpy networking conversation. Everyone likes to feel like they re appreciated. Showing praise for personal or job related accomplishments can never hurt while networking. When an individual feels encouraged by you, they feel satisfied with the interaction (King, 2008). Personal engagement can result in a better chance of support. If the person is willing to connect with you, you re more