Take Your Career to the Next Level by Mastering the Art of Influence & Networking
- Discovering the sweet spot between what you know and who you know can be a game changer
- Building your network and the principle of reciprocity can have a multiplier effect for your career
- Networking and strategic influencing can help you achieve the holy grail of a work-life balance
How Contacts, Connections and Colleagues Can Ignite a Stagnant Career
Are you a recent graduate looking to jump-start your career? An established mid-level engineer stuck in a rut? Maybe even an upper echelon-manager craving more recognition? Regardless of rank and experience, harnessing your connections and maximising your influence should be at the top of your personal development agenda if you really want to fulfil your potential. Undoubtedly, most readers will be familiar with trendy movements across the web and social media such as crowd funding and so-called random acts of kindness. However, fresh evidence is unmasking the real psychological drivers and neuroscience deep in the recesses of our not-so-selfless minds.
Quid Pro Quo & Reciprocity
A growing body of scientific studies are beginning to shed light on our subconscious motives for reciprocation, selflessness and kindness. The rationale for these popular phenomena is far less altruistic in nature than at first glance and appears to be fuelled by a deeply ingrained sense of duty and obligation towards our peers. Generosity is contagious so doing a good turn for a connection, contact or ex-colleague will likely be rewarded by a favour or vote of confidence down the line in a concept known as reciprocity by psychologists. Simply put, it can be explained by human nature and our hard-wired instinct to return favours to those who assist us in our hour of need.
Tools for Networking and Building Influence
Modern technology has opened up a whole new world of tools and apps that make it easier than ever to build your network, maintain relationships and reach out to the right people at just the right moment in your engineering career. Networking is neither confined by the limitations of travel, time and economical barriers nor by the necessity of face-to-face meetings. Some of the tools at your disposal include:
Attending physical conferences or webinars ✓
Utilising social media for professional networking with channels such as LinkedIn and Twitter ✓
Smartphones and a huge choice of free communication apps such as Skype and Viber ✓
E-mail, post, fax, homing pigeons and horseback ✓
Face-to-face meet-and-greets, business cards and elevator pitches✓
Making Your Networking Mojo Work for You
Once you have chosen your influence and networking weapons of choice, you will need patience, perseverance and a genuine spirit of openness and engagement without the expectancy of instant pay-offs or overnight success. There’s no bible for being authentic but following some common sense steps will help you make the most of your current network and future opportunities:
Ask questions and try to actively participate in relevant conversations ✓
Be sure to take feedback positively and embrace the opinions and experience of others ✓
Don’t be afraid to call people by their first names to help build rapport and camaraderie ✓
Make sure that your business card and elevator pitch reflect your career aspirations and skill set ✓
Be yourself and get used to feeling comfortable in your own skin whether you are a hermit, introvert, ambivert or extrovert ✓
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