WOW Word-Of-the-Week #509: Networking

May 7, 2014 by  

Networking making contacts where you work, with outside professionals and in your community.

How good are you at connecting with the people at work? Do you belong to any outside professional groups or involved in your community? What would those contacts know and then say to others about your capabilities?

 This week’s WOW is the follow up to the last two week’s from the San Diego UT article titled, “How to build your personal, professional brand.” Personal branding is an elusive topic to most people, yet it is important for career success. Wise professionals with career success know it can mean the difference between landing that dream job and never getting noticed.

“You may think you don’t need a brand, but the reality is that you already have one,” says Jana Fallon, vice president, Executive Development for Prudential Financial. She recommends five specific actions you can take today to improve your brand reputation. This week I will share the last two.

a network

N = Network Nonstop

To get others to recognize your brand, you have to market yourself. This clearly takes time and effort, but it can be done effectively if you follow these key steps. To share your brand, network in the organization you work in, outside with other professional contacts and in your community. Make yourself visible to those that can influence your career. The key to a successful professional brand is having strong “word-of-mouth marketing” from friends, co-workers, customers and other contacts. Having a strong brand means finding ways to network and manage what those contacts know and then say to others about your capabilities.

 D = Decide Today

“Decide to make managing your professional brand a priority,” Fallon says. “Carve out time each week to fine tune and evolve your defined brand. Make time to reflect and try out new behaviors and to expand your network. There is real power in knowing where you are focused and letting others know for what you aspire to be known.”

 This week’s focus is on networking. How comfortable are you marketing yourself? Have you made yourself visible to those that can influence your career? Do you have strong “word-of-mouth marketing” from friends, co-workers, customers and other contacts?

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