Get Your Butterflies Flying In Formation

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The Lion’s Pride: Networking

Get Your Butterflies Flying In Formation

Veteran Toastmasters give sage public speaking advice. One semi-serious pearl of wisdom is: “The trick is not to get rid of the butterflies in your stomach – it’s to teach them to fly in formation.”

Job hunters can use that wisdom when it comes to networking, as well.

Let’s face it – meeting and talking to new people can be intimidating for some. Harvesting information and favors from familiar folks can be, too. But, since networking should be a huge portion of anyone’s job hunt, it’s important not to lose the nervousness – but to use it. Here’s how:

Smile. Remember the old saying “fake it ‘till ya make it.” When you smile and act confident, you will actually begin feeling happy and confident. It’s amazing but true. Genuine smiles also attract people so they will want to be around – and help – you.

Give more than you ask. Bad networking is “gimme, gimme, gimme.” Good networking is a cooperative, collaborative effort. If you want help or info, be prepared to share some first. Also be willing to help more than you are helped. Besides improving your network of contacts, it’s just good Kharma. It also helps put your contacts at ease, which will put you at ease. The relationship takes on a productive energy.

Know. That’s right: “know.” Know what you need, what you want, the questions to ask and the help you are able to give. Knowing these things before networking will allow you to converse more comfortably. It’s all about the prep work.

IN THE CARAVAN: Teach your butterflies to fly in formation by knowing what you want, giving more than you get and smiling.

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Networking

Business Card Pack Rats / Gump-Style Networking / Becoming the Hub Increases Your Brand / Becoming the Hub II: Building Self-Feeding Buzz / Myths and Truisms / Grow Your Network - Go Where The Employers Are! / It's Not What You Know... / Always Be Prepared...Even If You're Not a Boy Scout / How to Make Six Degrees of Separation Work (Even If You're Not Kevin Bacon) / Marketing and Branding Yourself, Part I / Branding II: Your Website or Blog / Finding the Right Contact Person / Give a Little to Get a Little / Why Join Organizations? / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 1 / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 2: The Winning of The Sally / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 3: First Impressions / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part 1 / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part II: It's Not the Song, It's the Singer / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part III: Getting down to business / Networking at Job Fairs / Doing It On the Road / Networking Online / Getting Info From Sally & Co., Part I / Getting Info From Sally & Co., Part II: Asking The Right Questions / Networking Out of Town Part I: Laying the Foundation / Networking Out of Town Part II: Touring for Interviews / Working the Network by Feeding the Network / 'Running' Into Contacts / You Only Get What You Ask For / Press the Flesh II: Small Talk / Press the Flesh Like a Pro / Playing the Percentages / Fishing and the Right Bait / Shrek Style / Get Your Butterflies Flying In Formation / Discover Other People’s Passions / Double Dipping Doing Good / Overbooking Your Way to a New Job / Shaking the Branches of Your Family Tree / Working Your Reunion / Parents of Your Kids' Friends