The Networker
As I ponder what article to share in the Women’s Networker Newsletter, I search through my stack of books and come across this note I copied:
“Change is more likely to occur as fruit that grows on a tree properly watered, fed, and cared for. More specifically, change is the result of what we dwell on; what we fill our minds with, what we invest our time in.” – Dr. Greg Swenson, Psychologist Rapid City, South Dakota
Finally, I decide the best thing I could share is to encourage people to read more. Take time to read. My boss, Mike Alley, is always bringing in books he has read and talks about audiobooks he is listening to. Every month I receive an email from someone playing the Find-The-Coffee-News-Guy contest and a statement on the email reads, “If librarians ruled the world, reading would be a varsity sport.” I thought that’s terrific, but also sad that it is not true in our world.
As I am reviewing this idea, I read an article in the New Yorker about bibliotherapists.
“Can Reading Make You Happier?” (Ceridwen Dovey, June 9, 2015).
“For all avid readers who have been self-medicating with great books their entire lives, it comes as no surprise that reading books can be good for your mental health and your relationships with others, but exactly why and how is now becoming clearer, thanks to new research on reading’s effects on the brain… A 2011 study published in the Annual Review of Psychology, based on analysis of fMRI brain scans of participants, showed that, when people read about an experience, they display stimulation within the same neurological regions as when they go through that experience themselves. Bibliotherapy is a very broad term for the ancient practice of encouraging reading for therapeutic effect.”
You can read more about this.
Submitted by Lori Paulsen-Sauser, Treasurer
Black Hills Coffee News | Exit Realty Black Hills
The Networker
One day an old man was walking down the beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a young man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. As the old man approached the young man, he asked, “Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?” The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. The old man exclaimed, “But there must be thousands of starfish. How can your efforts make any difference?” The young man looked down at the starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea, he said, “It makes a difference to this one!”
At times in our lives, we have all been the old man, the young man, or the starfish.
Sometimes, as the old man, we don’t see the purpose to actions. We are so focused on what appears to be the futility of the situation or the seemingly massive obstacles we face that we don’t even look at the possibilities of what we could do and instead only see what we can’t. Just imagine what a difference could have been made if the old man had joined in and helped the young man in saving the starfish. They could have even started a movement where everyone on the beach that day joined in and helped. As a team, they might have saved every one.
Sometimes we are the starfish who just needs a little help. Wouldn’t you hope there was someone out there who was willing to take the time to save you?
And sometimes we are in the role of the young man; we persevere and make a difference. We often face the ridicule of others or the unintended discouraging comments of those who like to tell us that they’ve tried this before and it didn’t work or give us all the countless reasons this is a waste of time. Even if it is only one starfish, when we stay the course, we make a difference, and maybe next time the nay-sayers will join us instead of standing by and watching. If we want to make a change, we must embody that change first.
Saving starfish doesn’t usually require big actions. Just spending time and genuinely caring about people is really all you need to do. You have likely saved hundreds of starfish in your life, and never even realized it. So who will be your starfish today?
Submitted by Lorie Vega, Secretary
Ellsworth AFB 28th Force Squadron
The Networker
Networking basics has several elements. Ask any successful business person and they will tell you that professional networking is one of the most important elements — if not the most vital one – in moving your career forward. But even though it is so familiar among professionals, it is also one of the most underused career enhancement methods for success. Following are some ideas for you to know about networking.
What Is Networking?
Networking is the process of building and maintaining mutually beneficial connections with like-minded individuals through sharing resources and information and supporting each other. Strong relationships are built on competence, trust, fairness, honesty professionalism, punctuality, confidentiality and being upfront. One of the most important things about networking is being willing to collaborate with your connections instead of competing with them; you should also be willing to go the extra mile to help them and not just look at what they can do for you.
Everyone has networking experience, just not in those specific terms. Think about it: meeting someone or making a new friend is actually a form of networking. There are two different types of networking: social and professional networking.
Why Network?
Networking can be extremely beneficial for all professionals as it can help you at all stages of your career.
Helps You Get a Job. Networking is considered to be one of the most effective job hunting methods. Most people are able to find a job through networking, either through direct contact with a hiring manager or through referrals. If you are a hiring manager and are responsible for hiring someone into your company, would you rather hire someone you know and trust or a complete stranger? Having said that, some 80 per cent of jobs are never advertised, so by engaging with other professionals, you might end up getting hired in the hidden job market.
It’s the Biggest Predictor of Career Success. It provides different avenues to check out. According to some studies, simply being in an open network instead of a closed one is the best predictor of career success. An open network consists of people who act as nodes connecting different people and different groups – who can sometimes end up feeling disconnected and misunderstood. Having an open network can be quite challenging due to the constant conflicting perspectives you have to assimilate into your worldview. This is actually what makes open networks so valuable. By having all these different people together, with their varied backgrounds, you’re able to absorb the huge creative potential by combining ideas from different fields. When you are in a closed network, you are networking with people you already know and stay in the same industry, religion or political party. It, therefore, may be easier to get things done due to the trust you’ve built up with your existing connections.
So here are some networking tips. By investing the time to build a strong and open network, your career will eventually reap the benefits. People in your network will start seeing you as a skilled professional and will reach out to you for services depending on your expertise.
- Find networking opportunities.
- Set a schedule. Now that you have found opportunities available to you, look at all the events in your area and select the ones you would want to attend.
- Pay for it and since you have invested in the event you create a commitment for yourself and this will ensure you attend.
- Research the event. Find out all about the event on the internet and seek out attendees and speakers on social media. Since you have connected with them and have learned of their content before you meet them in person, be sure you introduce yourself again when meeting them in person.
- Go alone. This is the best way, because if you go with someone, it may scare off potential introductions and your friend may intimidate some people. You can challenge yourself and seek others on your own. If others can do it, you can, too.
- Go for the loners. Groups are very hard to approach and impress, so just approach that one person standing in the corner all by themselves and strike up a conversation. You may share the same interests, so this means you have made yourself a new connection, just like that.
- Volunteer to work at the event. This is a great way to meet people and benefit you. Most importantly, it keeps you in the know. This provides you with the unique opportunity to meet and network with people who you may not have otherwise encountered as a simple attendee.
- Follow up. Now that you have networked with someone, you need to follow up with them and send an email or note so they remember you too.
- Hang out by the food. This may sound strange, but don’t worry. This is the place where every attendee will pass by at one point or another, meaning you will be able to see and interact with everyone there.
- Remember to have FUN. Generally speaking, the more positive your attitude and the more fun you have, the more people will approach you.
- Last, but not least, keep an up-to-date list. Create a list with all the connections you made at an event – regardless of whether you think you and your career can benefit from them. Write down the date you met, the date you sent them your first email, if and when they replied, each time you met and so on. These notes will come in handy in the future and will definitely remind you when you need to follow up with someone you haven’t been in touch with for some time.
Networking is just a time to make sure you connect with people and have a wonderful time while making your connection. Good Luck.
~ Submitted by Doris Ann E. Werlinger, Hospitality
The Networker
In a world of constant connectivity and social media engagement, how you present yourself and handle important online tasks is extremely important for your business image. Angela Wolter (of Dot Marketing) and I shared a few tips at one of our luncheons several months ago. Because many of our members weren’t there, and because there is so much to think about, we are following up with helpful information about managing your digital image.
Email etiquette:
- Always use a clear subject line – This helps recipients prioritize, respond, and file their messages, making it more likely for you to receive a response.
- Make it short and to-the-point – The first paragraph is often all that is read of longer messages. It is always better to call when more information needs to be shared, then follow up with an email summary. When longer messages may be necessary, use formatting such as bold, bullet points, etc. to make it easier to read.
- Know your audience – For those you email frequently, get to know how they handle email. Constantly getting one answer when you ask 3 or 4 questions? Start sending separate emails for each issue, or change the formatting to make it easier to see and respond to everything.
- Delete the long string of replies – It makes sense to leave a message or two below, but in long conversations it is a good idea to delete older messages when composing your response. People have often gotten in trouble when messages have been forwarded that included a complaint about a boss or coworker, for example. Plus, it’s just annoying in some email platforms that don’t snip the long messages.
Mailing list etiquette:
- Make sure you have permission before adding people to your mailing list – Just because you meet someone at a networking function and seem to really hit it off, doesn’t mean he or she will appreciate being on your list. In fact, adding them without verbal permission or an opt-in email (requiring them to click a link in an email to confirm) is considered spam and may be illegal. Whether or not this is the case, it will certainly leave a bad impression.
- Let people know exactly what to expect when they do decide to join your list – How often will you send messages or newsletters? What types of information will you provide? Do you have separate lists for different types of information? Our inboxes are inundated with mail constantly, so you need to help people understand how your content will benefit them so they will not only join your lists, but also read your content.
Social media etiquette:
- Keep business and personal separate – Whether you maintain two separate Facebook accounts or just use a Facebook Page to manage your business networking, your business associates (in most cases) do not want to see your funny cat videos, cute pictures of your kids or nieces and nephews, or which political comments you “Like” or “Share” with others.
- Know your platform – Learn as much as possible about the platforms you choose to use, to make sure you are using them appropriately. Follow others in your industry to see what you like or dislike about their posts, as well as how people engage with the content.
- Limit your activities – No one has hours a day to post on social media. Overdoing it will cause you to feel overwhelmed, re-post the same exact content across multiple platforms (even where it isn’t appropriate to the platform), and cause you to become ‘spammy’ with your content. Choose one or two platforms to start, and add slowly only after you learn how to use each effectively, as well as how much time each takes.
- Be social, not spammy – Respond to others’ posts and comments, engage in conversations, provide useful information, and act like a real person. Online as well as in real life, no one likes to feel like they are just getting a pitch.
For 25 additional Social Media Do’s and Don’ts, read this article.
In general:
- Use proper grammar and punctuation – If you are representing yourself as a professional, it is important to be professional online. Misspellings, net slang or shortcuts, and improper punctuation do not present a professional image.
- Use privacy settings, but don’t rely on them – Make sure you are comfortable with who sees what types of content you post online by checking all privacy settings on every social network you use. However, keep in mind that once you send it out, anyone can copy and re-post what you write, so post or send email cautiously.
~ Submitted by Nikkole Abbas, WN Publicity
The Networker
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip:
(You don’t have to actually answer the questions, just read straight through, and you’ll get the point)
- Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
- Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
- Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
- Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
- Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
- Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
- List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
- Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
- Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
- Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!!
- Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money…or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.
You are already your child’s superhero, your boss’s superstar, your friend’s lifesaver, your spouse’s MVP because you care, you are involved, you think about helping others. You care enough to be a part of something worthwhile, to give back to your community, to strive to be better, to want to enrich lives. SO thank you for everything you do, AND remember to pass this on to the people in your life who were the answers to the second set of questions. It is so easy to get so caught up in the business of life that we sometimes forget to thank the people who helped us get to where we are and keep us sane and balanced every single day.
~ Submitted by Lorie Vega, WN Board Secretary
The Networker
Are we getting too casual in our work attire? Research suggests we are. An article by Robert Half at cpapracticeadvisor.com reports that 4% of accounting and finance employees dress very formal, 21% somewhat formal, 61% somewhat casual, and 13% very casual.
The topic of how teachers dress was discussed by author Harry Wong in his book The First Day of School.
Another recent research article by PayScale called Style vs. Salary reports that those folks in the category of business formal made higher incomes.
It is interesting that attention is being placed on how people dress in their industries. Is it because we know that in seconds those first impressions of a person are being formed? Is there concern that the manner in which people dress gives a message that they don’t care? Not caring about self, does it also indicate not caring for the customer? I find it interesting that the formal attire folks make more money but our attire is becoming more casual. So how does that work?
When I research information on 1st impressions, there is a lot of info on dressing corporate or professional, but very little on what’s business casual. We do know that every industry has some input into people’s dress code. Different careers require different presentations. Some industries make it easy for people, as they have a uniform; therefore, they do not have to think about their clothing choices. What about those industries that leave the dress code up to your “own judgement” or “within reason.” That can leave choices wide open. Unfortunately, situations like that can result in one or two people dressing poorly and it sets a tone for a whole business.
My experience has been that people don’t really know appropriate business dress. They allow themselves to be influenced by the media, friends, and family. That can be interesting! In the professional world is much more difficult for women than men. For example, men have traditionally worn suits, which is their “uniform.†Women on the other hand have many choices out there and dressing becomes challenging. Ladies, you get judged far more than men.
I have a few tips to dress for success in business:
- Determine what color is best on you. I believe that the foundation to image is color. Have you have ever had anyone say to you “are you feeling ok?” when you feel fine? It’s possible that the color you’re wearing may cause you to look tired or haggard. Learn what flatters you.
- Style is unique to each of you. Discover your personal style, as it will give you confidence and a great feeling of knowing you look amazing. It is nice to know how and what to wear for occasions.
- It is always better to dress a step up vs. a step down.
- If you own a business or work for a company, wear what reflects your brand. Brands reflect value systems, color, a message of who you are and want others to see in you.
- As a business owner, I suggest you take responsibility for defining appropriate dress for your company. Many entrepreneurs will utilize a business coach. Likewise, it’s sometimes worth the investment for an image consultant.
1st impressions can be lasting impressions. It’s worth your time and investment to consider the impression you’re making.
Suggested books:
Ultimate Hindsight by Jim Stovall
Branding Pays by Karen Kang
~ Submitted by Kathy Sazama,
Women’s Network Hospitality
