Women in Financial Services
The Human Approach to Networking
Rhian Bowler / 23 Mar 2017
During the Career Conversation today there were mixed feelings about networking ranging from enjoyment to apprehension!
Research from EY (2014) found;
- Only 50% of business workers value networking as a professional skill
- Fewer than half of professionals have LinkedIn accounts
- Only 1:4 women are convinced of need for women only networks
Networking is something we all do every day with friends, colleagues, clients. Fundamentally, it is about forming and maintaining relationships, and this is often best done face to face.
The true value of professional networking is underestimated. Being able to network and collaborate with peers is now being directly linked to productivity. But still there are many reasons why people say they do not network. Lack of time, not feeling confident or having the right skills are all mentioned as reasons not to network. Certainly in the UK networking cultures are not embedded in organisations, and companies do not have networking strategies or training in place.
Networking can take us out of our comfort zone. We don’t know what to say, or behave. Networking, or connecting with people must be a ‘genuine desire to make new connections, build relationships and develop the mind set of ‘what can I give/ offer’, rather than ‘what can I get out of this’. Once you have reframed the way you approach and think about networking, it can become more enjoyable and natural. Aiming to connect with people who have common interests/ knowledge/ skill can encourage a mutual desire to encourage and support each other and introduce each other to new contacts.
With our typically British reserve, we can often be too shy to ask for advice or help from our networks. There are times when we can offer support, and times when we need to ask for help, particularly when job seeking or looking to change career direction. This is absolutely the time to contact your network, you never know what can happen. If your friends are not in a position to help, they may know someone who can. Always reach out to your contacts, don’t be afraid of rejection or that you can’t offer anything, and start to embrace the human approach to networking.
E2W hold weekly Career Conversations with our Members on topics driven by them. The Conversation, usually a conference call, is the opportunity for Members to talk, collaborate and mutually support each other. The calls are facilitated by E2W's Career Coach - Rhian Bowler. Rhian offers Coaching to Members and non-members for details.
More about membership. Members can register for next weeks call on the membership Platform
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