@RODINCoglinMil sent me an article on Women vs Men on LinkedIn. She asked my thoughts about it.The report is from LinkedIn — looking at where Women are great Social Networkers and which industry they are not!
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/06/women-still-dont-get-linkedin-says-linkedin/39152/
Intersting to me — is that Women ReTweet Men more than women, and Men ReTweet Men more than women!
So the question I pondered, is how do you improve your Networking — both Virutal and In Person!
Tips for Women to More Effectively Network!
- Make Time for it! This is a big difference in men and women. I once asked my male mentor about networking and he said he considered it part of his job. Most women consider it extra credit.
- Select the Right Areas — whether the right LinkedIn Group, or beyond. I think that you cannot do everything. So for instance, I started with 3 LinkedIn groups about Authors but ended up selecting one of value.
- Be interesting! Showcase your compelling self! On LinkedIn, have a great Photo, complete your entire Profile, and make sure you have a great elevator pitch!
- Show interest! Listen to people, ask Questions (you can do this in the Q session on LinkedIn). Join great groups of interest.
- Follow up on the referrals you have been given and cultivate. I recently met a group of 10 fabulous people but knew I couldn’t keep up the same with each. So I prioritzed. While I followed up with all, I dedicated more time and more followups to a select few.
I have to work at networking daily. I try to have lunch out once a month, connect with 10 new people each month, and provide value to 10 people each month either in connecting them to others, providing them information I think will value them, or just in general providing advice!
What do you do? What should we do? I’d like your active conversation.
Interesting take. Just a spotlight from me: We are organizing our Social Business #JamCamp Bustour this autumn between Oct 10 -18 where we are traveling through Germany visiting customers, universities, magazines to discuss the evolution (or revolution) to become a Social Business. Until now 5 male #SocBiz experts applied to join the bustour. The SocBiz nerd girls and power women are still missing … Come on board, Ladies!
Great idea! I will be there!!!
Can you provide a link for all to sign up?!
Networking is difficult for me personally. I understand why and how, although tips like these absolutely help me hone my skills and approach. For some reason I don’t find that networking comes naturally to me. I always thought it was an extension of my personality and never considered it might be gender-related. I sometimes feel that when I’m networking I’m intruding, which I know isn’t valid because there’s an implicit understanding among those involved in a networking context (virtual or real) that we’re there to connect. If I can just muster the courage to *start* the process everything seems to flow after that. It’s handing out the first business card, sending the first follow-up email, making the first LinkedIn request, etc. that I have to focus on most.
Yes, I agree. getting started is hard. And it is not natural for most women. It is natural for women to be efficient, working through lunch, and getting things done so that they can get home to do the same!
But networking is the #1 success factor for men and women alike. So we need to make time and get out of our comfort zone in networking! It is actually fun and in the end, will become more natural for us, and hopefully our daughters.
Love your suggestions, especially making a point to have lunch out at least once per month! I am making a point of trying to respond more (direct message tweets, post comments, etc.) I just don’t see enough dialogue in my online network.
Liked the timely post! I agree that you have to consciously make time for it and be authentic in your conversations and interactions.
Generosity is also part of the social dance. Sharing what you deem interesting and being responsive makes the dialogue engaging.
I use LinkedIn as my virtual rolodex and I would recommend folks to update their profile and skill sets regularly.
Also agree that while we can leverage all the online channels, it’s equally important catch up with a lunch, coffee or a telephone call.
Not trying to sound “holier than thou” but to me social networking is first and foremost about giving. I like to think of it as “sow and you shall reap”. If you are honest, open, and generous about sharing (opinions, good articles, advise, introductions, …) than you will genuinely build valuable and interesting relationships via social media that benefits you on multiple levels (and the people you interact with). There are really some great people out on social media, however also some not-so-great (as with life in general). The good news is that you can normally recognize the generous folks fairly quickly.
I also personally don’t believe it should be first and foremost about furthering your career. You can smell the “self advertisers” a mile away and no-one wants to spend time with them (again the same as in real life). I feel that the career stuff will sort itself out if you are recognized as an interesting, insightful, and generous person to interact with.
I do agree. Networking to me doesn’t me searching for “what can you do for me” but I love your focus on what can you bring to the table. To do that however, does take time. It does take shared interest…..and it does take an interest but about you and about others.
I do see it as a gap for most women….and one I’d love for us to figure out how to address. Perhaps it is partially positioning it as you did … I think that illustrates the value!
I really like this approach/mindset. I’m much more comfortable giving and I think that if I approach networking with that in mind if it will make it easier for me to get started.
I liked the idea about having the card legible for the weak eye-sighted types.
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