How To Treat Networking As An Investment

Networking is the unwritten rule of success in business. Your next business opportunity is more likely to come from a loose connection rather than a close one. But first, you need to have connections.

1. Your Network Is An Investment

It’s important to understand what networking is, and what it isn’t. Networking is not randomly clicking on people on LinkedIn. It’s not making a bunch of new friends and it’s not about getting an immediate payoff.

Networking is about nurturing connections over time. The early years are about investing in it – doing some introductions and little favors, inviting people to events or letting them know about a job they might be interested in. If you ask people for a bunch of favors before you do anything for them, they’re likely going to look at you askance.

Like any good investment, over time, your network will yield a return. The return, though, is on the portfolio, not each individual relationship. You may spend a lot of energy on one person and get nothing in return, but another person might introduce you to someone who will turn into a great connection.

2. A Diverse Network Is A Strong Network

Be in a network, not an echo chamber. If everyone is like you, you’ll be comfortable, but you won’t grow. That also means networking outside your company. Colleagues are great, but they aren’t likely going to tell you about opportunities outside of your cubicle.

3. Put It Into Action

  • Do something nice for someone in your network every week. That doesn’t mean you have to find someone a job, but you can connect two people who should know each other, send over an article that someone may find useful, or give a LinkedIn recommendation.
  • Deepen one relationship every month.  Spend time with someone you want to get to know better, and that doesn’t always mean having lunch. Consider doing something active – inviting them to volunteer with you, or go to a concert or a show.

At the Ellevate Network, we aim to give women opportunities and tools to connect and learn in order to get to the next level in their careers. Whether it’s at an in-person event or online during one of our “Jam Sessions,” women supporting women is just smart business.

5 Quotes from Sonia Choquette, keynote speaker at #PowerPartyChicago

As women leaders follow the energy of emergence, we become more and more the exalted beings that we truly are. We gain confidence in our intuition, our ability to communicate, and our power to bring out the best in ourselves and those around us. This level of vital conscious being is what emerging women have to offer to the world of business, creative expression, and entrepreneurship – and the combination has never been more in demand!

That is why we are so excited to have Sonia Choquette to help us dial in to our feminine intuition at our Power Party Chicago. Sonia is inspiring a global conscious movement around the truth that “We, as humans, are Divine Beings endowed with SIX senses to guide us through life” and insists that we must activate and rely on our innate sixth sense in order to make the most authentic, well-informed, healthy, and soul satisfying decisions possible.

Below you’ll find 5 quotes from Sonia, to give a little taste of the kind of wisdom and authentic sharing you can expect at Power Party Chicago. Whether in-person or via livestream, we hope you can join us! Make sure you reserve your spot today. Grab your ticket HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

Sign up below for access to the FREE livestream for the Power Party Chicago, April 10th:



About Sonia: 

Sonia Choquette  is a globally celebrated spiritual teacher, six-sensory consultant, enchanting storyteller, and transformational visionary guide, known for her delightful humor and skill in quickly shifting people out of difficulty and into flow. She is the author of 19 international bestselling books on intuitive awakening, personal growth, creativity, and transformational leadership, including the New York Times bestseller “The Answer is Simple.” Learn more about Sonia here.

 

Like what you’re hearing? Dive deeper with us this October at Emerging Women Live 2014