The “Container Approach” to Networking
Work life programs emphasize the importance of work and personal responsibilities, but sometimes the different roles we have bring similar responsibilities, such as networking.
Every healthy career, community presence and personal life requires connections in order to function well and to develop future opportunities. Neglecting your responsibility to network in any one of your several roles in life could severely limit your potential for future development.
Through the creation of an onboarding process that engages new employees, businesses acknowledge the importance of establishing interpersonal connections in the workplace. Well connected workers produce more and become valuable to a company over time. Those who are networking outside of their own business by connecting with vendors, customers, and competitors contribute to their own career path and prepare a safety net should their current position end.
Networking is more than just part of your management roles and responsibilities: you need to get involved with your community by knowing your neighbors, representatives, and agency workers. You can also network within the extended family. These are all roles that play a part in work life balance definition.
The Container Approach
When you engage in purposeful networking, you make sure that you take care of all your relationships, not just add names and numbers to your contact list. To perform true value based networking, you should use a “container approach” that makes sure that you don’t leave anything out. Three lists or “containers” will help you make sure you network with goals in mind.
Container 1: People You Already Know
One list will be for the people you already know, whether you know them personally, see them in the neighborhood, or if you deal with them at the office. You don’t have to spend all day making the list, just set aside a few minutes and start writing. Once you get finished, you may be surprised at how many people you come in contact with on a regular basis. When your list is finished, list the things that you have done for the people on your list. Then list what they have done for you. Next list the steps that you will take to keep the people you want in your life.
Container 2: People you want to bring into your life
On the next list, put all the people you want to bring into your life. Describe who they are and what you can do to make them interested in you. Define what you want them to do for you and what you will do for them. Also add to this your plan for getting to know these people. How will you meet them?
Container 3: People you will need to know in the future to propel you toward your ultimate goals
The last list is a container for the people you will need to know in the future to propel you toward your ultimate goals. Define who these people are and work on a long term plan to make yourself valuable to them so they will notice you and do things for you as well. Next, take action.
Beginning with the first container, choose some names and decide what you will do for those people. Schedule some from each list so you will move toward the achievement of your goals little by little with definite, purposeful steps.
The essence of value based networking says that if you give to others, others will give to you. This could take the form of reciprocal deals in business, compassion in the community, or love in the family. Address each of your roles on each list and you and others will soon reap the rewards.
Three Things To Do Next
1. Leave a comment: What works for you in networking? Any approaches you like to use?
2. Make your containers: Take a few minutes to make your lists that go in each container. 15 minutes on this will be a great step for improving your networking skills
3. Check out our Value Based Networking Program: This is our networking program many businesses are using with their teams.
