Parents of Your Kids' Friends

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The Lion’s Pride: Networking

Parents of Your Kids' Friends

There comes a time in every parent's life when their kid(s) have friends and become involved in activities. Children make friends in day care, in scout groups, sports, and even temporary chums at the playground. And, as sure as that first gray hair is bound to sprout, or foreheads evolve into "fiveheads," parents are bound to make friends with the parents of their children's friends.

Professionally, it's a good idea. That's not to say one should overtly use their offspring as a tool to get ahead. But as mentioned previously in The Daily Machete and our flagship site WildJobSafari.com, it's important to continually network and develop new relationships. Here's why your kids' parents make such great networking contacts:

You already have something in common. You both have kids, and, most likely, some funny parenting stories in common. This is a very easy way to break the ice. Eventually, you'll discuss work, since most adults identify themselves by their occupation. This is a great time to ask questions and exchange information.

Non-threatening way to exchange phone numbers. Since the children are friends, setting up a play date should be no problem. And, since the kids will be together, why not invite the parents over for some coffee? Again, the topic of work will likely come up. Feel free to exchange work numbers and email addresses. You might develop a good working partnership.

You're bound to meet more parents. Parents tend to introduce other parents to each other. "Stan, Bob. Bob, Stan. Stan, Bob is Emily's dad. Bob, Stan is Billy's father." This sort of introduction is common. The newly-introduced parents are now able to build their connections.

...And, again, the more connections, the better.

IN THE CARAVAN: Networking with parents of your kids' friends is a non-threatening, easy way to grow your contacts.

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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