Don’t get me wrong! One of the main reasons to attend conferences is to get new thoughts and ideas, and see what you can implement when you return home. However, you never really get the chance to spend time really networking with others. Most of the time, I have to settle for a casual hello or cursory smile across the cavernous room to someone I might have met years ago.

 

I recently spent a couple of days in San Diego attending the Training Leadership Summit conference presented by Training magazine. I knew that this was not the typical “cattle call” type convention, but you can still imagine my surprise when I arrived. There could not have been more than 150 people in attendance. While my first reaction was nervousness, as I knew no one there, I soon realized that this was a good thing. 

 

I spent three days in breakfast, lunch and dinner with the same names and faces. In fact, I made it a point to move around to meet those I did not know. Within three days, not only had I met most everyone there, I also engaged in some serious training dialogue with my peers. I returned home to Birmingham not only with content, but also with newfound relationships and training ‘partners’ from all over the world (Yes, I now have training peers in Canada and Singapore with whom I can benchmark!)

 

My point is simple: relationships are how work gets done. Relationships will assist you in getting work done. In his book, The 29% Solution, Ivan Misner talks of the top ten traits of master networkers. One of his top ten traits is a “dedication to working one’s network.” This, combined with his trait of “commitment to 24/7 networking,” reminds me that networking is not something that just happens at conferences. It takes work!

 

What can you do to improve your networking skills and create those relationships that will help you get your work done as a leader?

 

 

 

Remember, networking builds relationships, and relationships help you be a more effective leader, and effective leaders are hard to come by these days…sad, but true…

 

Get out there and work your network -

 

Pete