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Catharine Parnell

A common theme in my #EMBA program is #networking - how to do it, why you do it, how to make yourself more comfortable with the idea of connecting with people who might be able to help you (or those you care about) in the future. For those who aren't sold on the concept of networking, I'll point you to a bit of wisdom I jotted down last week at The Military Veteran conference —"You're only as good as your hard drive." I liked this aphorism not just because I know the feeling of showing up to a new assignment and scouring the common drive for resources, but also because it holds true — you pull what you need from what (and who) you can put your hands on. When you #network effectively — with kindness, with energy, with compassion, with attention — you build your base of resources on which you can rely to do your job and to find the next one. Your mileage may vary, but here's what works for me: ▪️Engaging on this platform. Leave a thoughtful comment, start a conversation with someone, join one of the amazing Campfire coffee chats. ▪️Be generous with your time and with your gratitude. You make connections with people by giving them the benefit of your full attention and by giving your genuine thanks. ▪️Schedule time to connect one-on-one with people who interest you. Brendan Aronson is a master of this — he scheduled one call with me and changed the way I think about connecting to others. I followed his lead and set up time with Adrian Bonenberger this week — I'm so glad that I did. ▪️Keep notes (mental, or in an old-fashioned Rolodex, a Moleskine, a folder) about what people have done, what they care about, and what interests them. Try to remember to follow up with them about their favorite sport, their hobbies, their families, their industry. You can add value to people's lives by engaging with them on what matters to them (but you have to make an effort to remember those things). ▪️Ask the people you meet what problems they're trying to solve and what kind of people they're looking to meet. Start connecting those people and the benefits of those connections will compound over time. What's your favorite piece of networking advice? What works for you?

Catharine Parnell

Oct 7, 2022