by Karen P. Katz on March 5, 2010
Kudos to Lindsey and Kate, who organized this well-attended event at the Public House in Center City, Philadelphia.
What is “Speed Networking?” It is an event designed to promote business connections, in this case among a group of professionals who already share an interest in careers in the “Sustainability” sector of business. In my role as a resource for people interested in this sector, this association-sponsored event was sure to attract people I would be able to relate to.
How does the event work? Participants were assigned either letters or numbers. Letters remained seated at small tables; numbers changed seats after a specified period of time until most attendees had an opportunity to meet one another. In other words, letter “C” met with number “3;” then number “3″ moved over to meet with letter “D.”
Where does “speed” enter the picture? These events are staged to promote a quick introduction to as many people as possible, with time afterward for socializing. Time seems to be our scarcest resource these days: I was able to meet and make an initial assessment of 10 people in 65 minutes.
WIIFY-What’s In It For You?
- For those who are not comfortable with face-to-face networking, this is an opportunity to practice in a controlled environment and for a limited period of time – no need to reach-out to people ‘cuz they’ll come to you.
- This type of event preserves a bit of anonymity – you may find 1-2 gems among the 10 contacts you might make, and there is no shame in leaving the 8 or so other contacts to be mined later or not at all.
- In just a few minutes, participants share business cards and discuss their goals, share their “1-minute commercial,” ask for recommendations”, etc. Take notes, follow-up, be a giver…
- Your group can suggest some “prompts” or conversation starters, or leave it to the participants. Lindsey and Kate suggested 6-minute blocks of time, so there was ample time to share information and determine if connections were worth pursuing.
I’d like to hear about your experiences: is this a legitimate method to build your network, or is it too contrived? So far, my take on it is that speed networking could be a great ice-breaker for a group training exercise or meeting. I recommend it as a NYNT – Nurture Your Network Tool. Thanks again to Lindsey and Kate, (and to whomever jammed the parking meter outside the Public House so I could park for free)!
by Karen P. Katz on February 23, 2010
LaSalle University’s Bucks County Center hosted a very well-attended discussion this morning. I was honored to be among the panel members who responded to questions regarding the personal and business applications of social networking/personal marketing. Those in attendance included faculty, staff, and adult students; their questions and comments revealed a deep engagement in the topic. Some comments that may not have been clearly communicated:
- Social networking and personal marketing allow us to gain autonomy and independence in the workplace. Social networking tools allow us to become more responsible for the long-term management of our careers – the “apron strings” to corporate employers are not secure.
- Online networking complements warm networking. Those who successfully develop and nurture their network demonstrate key qualities: team work, cultural awareness, and service orientation.
- Social networking has launched an era of “giving;” a prerequisite for and a simultaneous part of the “receiving” that most people associate with the new verb, “to network.”
- Career management requires a long-term commitment to social networking. While numbers vary, 80 – 95% of all jobs are filled through networking. With that in-mind, tools such as LinkedIn.com allow career managers to conduct a proactive “people search” rather than a reactive “job search.”
- Age is not a predictor of success in the realm of social networking. While members of Gen X and Gen Y may have an advantage in the use of hardware and software, the Boomers and Traditionalists seem to have an advantage in the “social” aspects of networking. Bette J. Walters, Esq., a fellow panel-member, referred to the need for a publication recommending social networking manners; in the meantime, click here for a relevant discussion of such issues.
by Karen P. Katz on February 22, 2010
The public is invited to a panel discussion sponsored by the Alumni Relations office of LaSalle University. Panel members will address topics of interest to job seekers, career changers, and entrepreneurs:
- Developing your personal social network presence
- Developing corporate strategies and policies on social networking sites
- Protecting the organization and the employee
Web 2.0 strategies have started a shift in thinking : what are the predictions for growth using Internet building blocks? How do we plan for changes? How can we maintain the personal or organizational image we choose?
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8:30 – 10am, Tuesday, February 23, 2010
LaSalle Bucks County Center, 33 University Avenue, Newtown, PA 18940
Sponsored by LaSalle University IT Leadership Panel and Alumni Relations
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Panel Members:
Alicia Stonesifer, LaSalle University
Karen P. Katz, Career Acceleration Network (CAN), LLC
Bette Walters, Esq., ALCO Industries
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by Karen P. Katz on December 3, 2009
Check-out the “Made to Stick” column that appears in the monthly publication, Fast Company. Brothers Chip and Dan Heath write cutting-edge commentary on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the integration of Web 2.0 tools. The November 2009 contribution “caught my fancy” with an irreverent approach to solving marketing problems.
The Heath brothers describe an intractable problem faced by a Procter & Gamble business unit. The group director may have invoked the famous words of Albert Einstein, who said: “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Unable to solve a problem within the P&G domain, the group director took the team on a field trip to the San Diego Zoo – looking for answers on another turf!
Observations of plant life and animal behavior sparked eight fresh approaches to the CPG problem, driving home the point that “…someone else may have a different perspective…problems that are difficult in one domain may be trivial to solve from the perspective of a different domain.”
The work of the Heath brothers promotes innovative thinking and problem solving strategies. Their clever and slightly irreverent metaphors drive home the point that solutions to problems may be “in-your-face,” and yet not visible through your own mirror. Clearly, the message is to search outside our own borders, beyond our own companies, and outside the paradigms created by our industries. Maybe it is time to bring back my own irreverent metaphor for those in career transition: the unicellular paramecium.
by Karen P. Katz on November 10, 2009
The Reach Personal Branding group recently circulated a post that deserves wider circulation. William Arruda, a respected advocate for personal branding and co-author of Career Distinction, commented on a NYT piece by Thomas Friedman called, “The New Untouchables.”
Arruda makes the point that those who will survive and flourish during challenging times are those who can distinguish themselves – those who can become the purple cow in the herd of brown and white cows. As I prepare to meet MBA students who aspire to be the corporate and entrepreneurial leaders of tomorrow (Net Impact Conference 11/13 & 11/14), it seems timely to extrapolate these words from William’s post:
As I see it, this is all about personal branding. What do you offer that is not available from anyone else? What emotional brand attributes do you add onto your competence that gets people excited about you? What unique talents and abilities put you in a class by yourself?
Will you make the case to a prospective employer that you understand their issues – that you are prepared to integrate your education, experience, and personal qualities in a plan that makes an overwhelming case for hiring and retaining you. Will you make yourself indispensable?
