Four Steps Towards Effective Networking

One of the goals of Chaplains Corner is to build up a matrix of support of Viners for Viners as we deal with the universal events, problems and opportunities all of us face in life. This article will deal with how to network. The method used is equally applicable to community organizing, sales and marketing, career advancement, friend and ally acquisition and retention. As with so much of life, what works in one area, can be customized to work in many others.  

There are four steps to the networking cycle. They are:

1. Organize (Reorganize).

2. Contact.

3. Follow Up.

4. Follow Through.

Let's take a closer look at each one.  

Step One: Organize. When you organize to network you identify what you seek to accomplish. Then target who can get you there. Next, figure out how to motivate them to help.

Suppose you need help clarifying how to deal with a personal crisis. Assume you want your needs to be clarified your way, not be used to promote someone elses program. You would want to break out specific goals which you can provide to your intended help source. A cardinal principal of management is that the clearer you are about what you want, the better your chances of getting it at all, no less from someone else. Once you have an accessible and focused list of objectives you want to accomplish, you need to identify people who you think you can trust and are capable to assist you getting what you want in the format you need it. Then you have to figure out a way to get them to do so. Develop an action plan to light a fire under your advocate. Key off what they believe, and their needs. That will always motivate them more than just a preoccupation with yours.

Step Two: Contact. Implement your contact plan. You can do this at Chaplains' Corner by writing an article asking for help (assuming you feel comfortable in this), and see who responds. Suppose you don't want to go public? It you already know a fellow Cornerite, you can Vine mail them explaining what you seek, and seeing if they would agree to help you. If not, and if you feel at ease, ask them if they can recommend someone who can be trusted and is qualified. Redo step two, and make the contact there.  

Step Three: Follow Up. Before you complete step two, ask the most important question of them prior to ending that step. That question is, "Where do we go from here"? Create an action plan with deliverables. Set a time table. Agree on frequency of contact and method. Set ground rules to cover such matters as confidentiality, and not only what you seek, but also how you wish it, and what you are don't want. Again, the more clear you are about what you need, the better your chances of getting it. In step three, follow the informal contract you have co-developed and agreed upon.   

Step Four: Follow Through: As your help source(s) generate suggestions, ideas, leads, methods etc. to resolve, or help you make progress with the issues you need to address, be sure to try them out. You may need to modify them based on your knowledge of what you do and can tolerate. Go at your own pace. Just don't procrastinate. That isn't going to get you results. It isn't a good use of their time either. There is wallowing in a problem, and there is resolving a problem. Opt for the latter. In step three, one of the things you want to include is a time line for you to put into action the help these good friends provide. Add metrics and tracking mechanisms. This way you can can measure progress. Anyone who fails to plan, plans to fail. Your goal is success.

This is a cycle. It is not an infinite one. When you complete step four go back to step one. Reorganize.

Perform a post implementation review. Did you achieve the goals you set out to do? What worked? What failed? How much did these efforts succeed and fail? what can be done to leverage success? What can be done to improve failures? Provide feedback to those who helped you. Are you still in need of more assistance? Why? How? Be specific now, as before for the same reason. There are no mind readers (of which I am aware) in Chaplain's Corner. If you cannot articulate what you need, how can anyone help you get it? Be sure here, as in every part along the time line to express your appreciation for any help given. A genuine thank you goes a long way.      

Here is an example.

Step One: Organize. Suppose your problem is that you have trouble knowing how to combine justice with mercy. Let's say that you evaluate the progress of people in your life. There is a delicate balance between being too strict, and too lax. You know this isn't your strong suit. It affects them, and the people they influence around them. How can you address this? You need to create an incident file. This will document specific examples of when you needed to do this, and how you handled or mishandled it. Review this incident file. Figure out on your own what you need to do better, and how. If you get stuck, go back and document the successes you had with those incidents you could figure out. Look for patterns which you can apply elsewhere. See what skills are needed to address things that worked, and didn't work. Indentify trusted people to whom you can go for advice on the things you cannot handle. Before you meet with them, write up a summary explaining your quandary. Be specific about what you need, and share with them the incident file. A description of what worked for you, why, and where you are stuck now. Be sure to include what you want from them in your summary. Their time is valuable. Don't make the mistake of hoping they can figure out what you want. You need to communicate that openly.

Step Two: Contact. Share the documents and files in advance of your meeting, once they agree to help. If they feel they cannot for any reason, ask if they can recommend someone who can do this and will. Once you find the right person or people, share documents and files in advance of the meeting.

Step Three: Follow Up. When you meet, let them ask questions to clarify anything they need made clear. Set up an informal contract which defines roles, responsibilities, goals, time lines, contact frequency, and ways to measure success. This is your action plan. For example, ask them to define ways you can better approach things you need to do, but don't do well. Suggestions on how to improve will be helpful . Try using these suggestions. Document them on incident and progress cards. Agree on when to share them, and when they will get back to you with more recommendations. Discuss them, and keep refining techniques to improve your performance.

Step Four: Follow Through. Implement their suggestions. Keep records. Share them. Apply their advice, Try on a best efforts basis  to make it work. Document what does and doesn't succeed. Communicate why you think it worked or failed for you. When they give you input, follow up on that.

Go back to Step One. Reorganize. Perform your post implementation review. Learn from successes and failures. As soon as possible do this on your own. Predefine what you and they feel is needed for you to handle this by yourself. When you get there, do it on your own.                                 

When the process is over, how can you ever repay the ones who helped you? Perhaps you cannot. This you can do. Be there for others, even as others were there for you.

There is the story of an old man who toiled in an olive grove. On his work break, he went to barren parts of the grove, and planted olives pits. He watered and fertilized the soil. Younger workers mocked him. They said, Old man, olive trees take a century before they bear fruit. Just how will you live to see the benefits from your extra labor here"? He replied, "I do not. Someone who preceded us must has planted and tended these trees for us to harvest olives. They never lived to see all of them bear fruit. I am only continuing the good work they started. Not for me, but for generations to come. That is how the grove improves. When we all start things from which we will not benefit. Our descendants will. Its called progress"!

Keeping alive the good work of doing things for others which we will never see. Progress indeed!

Peace and Blessings. Enoch.