How to Build a Substantive Network

Think beyond LinkedIn connections to build meaningful, in-person relationships.

Meeting with other professionals in person is often more valuable than connecting with them online.

By Marcelle Yeager

In the technology age, people believe everything is quantity-driven. We often think that if someone has a ton of Facebook friends, it means he or she is popular. Seeing a person with many connections on LinkedIn could mean she is very well-connected. However, the presence of 500-plus connections on LinkedIn and 1,000 Facebook friends can be deceptive. Do those people personally know that many people? It's pretty unlikely.

Having an exorbitant number of connections can make others question whether you really know that many people or are just trying to increase your numbers for show. High numbers aren't going to get you the job you want, but substantive relationships will.

What is a substantive relationship?

A substantive connection is one where you have actually spoken to or met the person you're connected to online. A friend of a friend or connection of a connection does not count. It actually requires that you have had some sort of interaction with the person.

How do I develop meaningful connections?

Stop sending the template LinkedIn connection request and template email messages! Send thoughtful notes with LinkedIn requests or emails. People want to know why you want to connect with them, and they don't have the time or inclination to figure it out on their own.

One of the best things you can do is to offer help or expertise immediately. For example, you can write that you'd be more than happy to introduce them to people in your network. If you do this, make sure you stay true to your word when they ask for your help, and do it promptly. This will inspire them to help you again in the future.

Do I have to be introduced by someone I know in my network?

No. You can mention that you found the person through a mutual connection, as this will help explain how you found them. Always be sure to explain why you wish to connect.

What do I say?

People usually feel most comfortable offering advice and speaking about themselves. Are you moving to a new city and looking for advice about how to grow your network there? Did you just graduate and are trying to find out how people progressed in their sales careers?

There are many ways people can guide you. Ask for it. Don't immediately ask for someone to help you get a job at her company or to look at your résumé and give feedback. That's a very forward move that a lot of people won't react kindly to, and they likely don't have the time. Plus, most people won't do that without a personal connection of some kind, which is the whole point of building substantive professional connections.

What are some other ways to grow my network besides in online forums?

Look into professional groups in your area. Toastmasters can help you develop public speaking skills and your professional contacts at the same time. Eventbrite and MeetUp advertise local in-person networking opportunities. Also, don't underestimate the power of social events. You can always create a connection that turns professional if you hit it off with someone.

How can I maintain the relationship effectively?

You should keep in touch with those you consider essential professional connections. Find reasons to reconnect, whether it's to congratulate them on a new job that you found out about in a LinkedIn update or on a personal life event. Maybe it's just a holiday note to say "hello," wish them happy holidays and catch up.

Always respond to emails in a timely manner. The days when people only checked their emails once every few days are over. People are constantly online with their smartphones and tablets, so most assume you've read their emails very soon after they sent them.

Don't wait around for days until you have something great to say. Sometimes all you need to do is thank someone for her help. Try your best to reply to emails within 24 hours. Of course, there are emergencies, sicknesses and vacations that delay response times, but do it as soon as you reasonably can.

Hundreds of connections in an online social network do not translate to a functional professional network. Despite the prevalence of technology, phone and in-person contact still ranks highest. In order to make valuable connections, you must craft messages that resonate with the people you want to meet and make an effort to retain them.

You might wonder: What's the point? If you want the chance at job referrals for hidden or posted job openings, you must have interacted with your connections in a substantive way. Being an online follower is just not enough.

Marcelle Yeager is the president of Career Valet, which delivers personalized career navigation services. Her goal is to enable people to recognize skills and job possibilities they didn’t know they had to make a career change or progress in their current career. She worked for more than 10 years as a strategic communications consultant, including four years overseas. Marcelle holds an MBA from the University of Maryland.

===========================

Sourse: http://money.usnews.com/

5 Things to Never Reveal About Yourself at Work

How oversharing with co-workers can hurt your career.

File salary information, health issues and relationship details under "TMI."

By Robin Madell

When you spend more hours with your colleagues than with your family, it may seem natural that you'll get to know each other. But before you start divulging details about your personal life in an effort to connect with co-workers, beware. There's a fine line between appropriate sharing and creating confidences that might kill your career
.

Whether you're a new grad preparing to start your first job or a seasoned industry veteran, the rules are the same when it comes to "TMI" in the workplace. Here are five types of information to never with co-workers:

Negative feelings about your job or colleagues. With social media just a click away, it can be tempting to vent about a bad day at work with your online network. But even if your profile settings are marked as "private," it's always a bad judgment call to fume either on Facebook or in person about negative feelings or experiences you have regarding your company, colleagues or job. Even if you think you're couching terms with discretion, you're best to save workplace opinions for your family and friends who are not connected with the office.

"You've heard the horror stories," says Marilyn Santiesteban, assistant director of career services at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. "My best advice is not to post about your colleagues or any details of your work – especially if it is negative or might be confidential. Employers love positive staff posts, but it takes a while to determine what's appropriate. If in doubt – don't!"

Opinions that may cause controversy. While it may seem like a no-brainer to avoid discussing controversial topics like politics and religion at work, the importance of doing so can't be overstated. Nothing good can come from discussions that create dissension among colleagues. Plus, in the worst-case scenario, saying something that offends someone else on these matters may lead to a lawsuit.

"There's an old adage that goes: 'Do not share things that you would not want your mother, boss or priest to know,'" says Jenny Korn, scholar of online identity at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Now, I would substitute parent for mother. The advice still stands, because it operates on not discussing things that might cause discord with a person that is in a position to judge one's behavior, like a parent, boss or priest."

Since your political stance on an issue might not match a colleague's, raising the issue might affect work relations, Korn adds, and bringing up your choices regarding sexual intimacy could be construed as harassment.

Health issues. Sharing positive health habits like exercising on your lunch hour might earn you respect in the office. But be wary of slipping into the negative when detailing health-related issues or disclosing health conditions or health history, cautions Charley Polachi, managing partner at Polachi Access Executive Search. "Discussing your health history can create uncomfortable situations for yourself and others," he says. "There are very few situations in which health history would need to be brought up, and if it does need to be addressed, it should be in private between an employee and his or her direct boss."

Certified diversity professional Eduardo Herrera, who serves as chief communications officer at Liberty Capital Group, adds that revealing personal health information in the workplace may also lead to discrimination by fostering perceptions and stigma that could hinder your ability to be viewed as a viable candidate for advancement. "Although in many instances employees are protected from this type of discrimination, premature talk of a health concern can affect an employee's future," he says.

Relationship issues and family troubles. Negativity in any form can be a turnoff for others in the office, and this goes for what you share about your personal life, too. "If you're always talking about how your home life is in shambles, your boss might think twice about giving you a promotion, because they may think you can't handle the additional stress," says Ian Cluroe, Alexander Mann Solutions' head of marketing in the Americas Region.

Yet even if the personal experiences you are sharing are positive, when it comes to talking about relationships, dating or home life, discretion is key. "We like to know a little about the people with whom we work – and that's the key: a little," Santiesteban says. "If your colleagues are intimately aware of your romantic relationships, your parents' quirks, your health/medication issues and the mileage on your car, you've crossed the line."

Even sharing too much about a fun night out might be seen as too much information. "If you spend every Monday bragging about your awesome weekend of partying, serious people – the people who can influence the trajectory of your career – aren't going to take you seriously," Cluroe says.

How much money you make. You may hope to find out how much your cubicle mate makes by sharing your own salary level with him or her. Yet Herrera says revealing salary and pay details can cause division, resentment and strife among employees. "From a management perspective, variations in salaries are justified by unique variables," he says. "But employees within a department or with the same job title would argue otherwise, because from their point of view, they're working harder, are more educated or have been with the company longer."

At the end of the day, only you can decide what you want to share with people at work. In some work cultures, it's acceptable to share more than in others, and the same holds true for different regions of the country or parts of the world.

Context plays a role as well. "If the conversation is about addressing urgent issues that need a speedy resolution, and the person speaking with you is the one charged with the accountability, it probably is not a good time to go off topic and share anything personal," says Connie Bentley, U.S. general manager of Insights Learning and Development. "If, however, a close colleague is struggling with an issue related to child care during school holidays, and you have some experience that could help, that might be perfectly appropriate."

However, Cluroe leaves us with this caution: "Just remember that everything you say leaves an impression – and if you want to create a good impression that will further your career, less is more."

Robin Madell has spent over two decades as a corporate writer, journalist, and communications consultant on business, leadership and career issues. She serves as a copywriter, speechwriter and ghostwriter for executives and entrepreneurs across diverse industries, including finance, technology, healthcare, law, real estate, advertising and marketing. Robin has interviewed over 1,000 thought leaders around the globe and has won 20 awards for editorial excellence. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association in both New York and San Francisco, and contributed to the book “Be Your Own Mentor: Strategies from Top Women on the Secrets of Success,” published by Random House. Robin is also the author of “Surviving Your Thirties: Americans Talk About Life After 30” and co-author of “The Strong Principles: Career Success.” Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter: @robinmadell. 

===========================

Sourse: http://money.usnews.com/