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Summer
2010
Networking Tip
#1: Sit next to someone you know
When I began learning about how to
network effectively, I had several experts tell me to always sit with
someone you don't know. Now I'm questioning that adage and I'm
replacing it with this one: sit with someone you already know!
What's the point of sitting next to
someone you don't know and having yet another shallow or meaningless
conversation about the weather, the traffic, or the news? Doesn't
it make sense to deepen an already existing relationship and really get
to know someone a little bit better?
Time after time I've dutifully picked
out folks I don't know to sit with at an event, only to learn that they
are sitting next to friends and don't care to strike up a conversation
with someone they don't know, or to merely banter about how bad the
economy is, how busy we are, or the latest diet craze. These
conversations don't get me any closer to meaningful business
relationships that will aid me in recruiting candidates, learning about
best practices, or gaining valuable information on business
opportunities.
At a recent networking event I found
two friends, and we decided we were all tired and went off to a corner to
visit. In this conversation we talked about a fantastic trip one
friend had taken, and she shared about how religious beliefs impact society
and our workplaces. I learned that the degree being sought by one
of the individuals is in spirituality, and we began a wonderful
conversation about our beliefs regarding the role of spirituality in the
workplace. No mention of traffic or the heat here! Instead we
shared meaningful information about important events in our life, and we
began a path to a deeper relationship that will no doubt help us in our
professional careers and personal lives. And, as it turns out, I'm
working on a new presentation on spirituality in the workplace, and this
colleague is sure to be a great resource.
Whether it's finding people I've
recently met but don't know well, or reconnecting with long-term friends,
I'm finding that it's more meaningful and productive to sit with a
friend! Maybe we can sit together at the next meeting . . .
Cathy Fyock
One of Louisville's
128 "Connectors" as named by a study conducted by Leadership Louisville
Selected
Items from Cathy's Calendar
What's Cathy been up to . . .
Each month: "So You Want to be a Consultant?"
Resources Global Professionals, Louisville,
KY
Every other month: "Your Issues in Job Search,"
facilitator for ExecuNet chapter meeting, Louisville, KY
August 25, "Essentials of Networking," General Electric,
Louisville, KY
August 31, "Essentials of Networking," LSHRM, Louisville, KY
September 21, Facilitated session for the KY Association of
Electrical Cooperatives board of directors meeting, Louisville, KY
September 29, "Strategic Consulting Skills for HR Business
Partners," presentation with Sandy Allgeier, SPHR, for the KY SHRM
Conference, Louisville,
KY
September 30, "Spirituality in the Workforce," KY SHRM
Conference, Louisville,
KY
Coming up . . .
December 1 - 3, Conference Chair, KY SHRM Leadership Conference, Erlanger, KY
 About
Cathy Fyock
Are you looking for a high-content
speaker for your next conference or meeting? Call or email Cathy to
find out how she can work with you to meet your specific goals and
objectives.
Cathy Fyock, CSP, SPHR, is an
employment strategist-helping organizations develop strategies to recruit
and retain top talent in an aging and changing marketplace. For
more than 20 years she has combined her knowledge of work-force issues
and her talents as a speaker to provide innovative and inspirational
learning events. She has helped organizations attract top talent, reduce
turnover, and improve productivity in a volatile labor market.
Cathy has joined Resources Global
Professionals as their Director of Recruiting/Client Services for the Louisville
office. In this role she practices "hiring the best"
while focusing on attracting senior-level professionals. She also
is responsible for business development, focusing on the human capital
service line.
Permission
to Reproduce This Newsletter
Permission is hereby granted to
reprint articles from this report by Cathy Fyock, at no charge, with the
agreement that the biographical information be included following each
article used. One copy of the publication in which the article is
published must be forwarded to Innovative Management Concepts. A fee of
$500 per article will be expected for articles published without the
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editing this article to meet your publication guidelines.
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