Networking

I have been asked a few times to teach others about how to network and to share my networking skills. I am so grateful for my network of friends and relationships, and they have been incredibly meaningful and valuable for me personally as well as the institutions that I have served. The Belgian psychotherapist, Esther Perl, posits that “the quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.” I believe that more in my life now than ever. I am convinced that my relationships and my network enrich my life each day and I hope that I enrich the lives of those in my network. I am a big believer of Zig Ziglar’s quote, “you can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”  

Steve Jobs had a famous story about networking. When he was 12 years old, he looked up the president of HP in the phone book and called him and asked him for spare parts for a frequency counter, and the president gave him a summer job. Jobs later said, “I've never found anybody that didn't want to help me if I asked them for help.” He said that most people would never have made that call and that was what made him unique. I have often thought about that as I learned the power of outreach and the magic of networking.  

While there are several positives of growing and maintaining a large network, there are some considerations and potential downsides. One consideration is that familiarity can breed contempt. Politicians and celebrities are great examples of that. There does seem to be something about familiarity that can attract. Here are some of the ways that I grow and maintain my network:

• Maintain professional social media accounts: Social media is a powerful way to develop and maintain relationships. Whenever I meet someone, I connect with them through social media. I also post semi-regularly positive (non-political) professional unique items relevant to my audience (medical education and my friends). It is also important to engage with your community by commenting on posts, happy birthday wishes, etc.  
• Stories you need to master: Your story (origin story), why you do what you do/what makes you tick, your personal likes and dislikes.
• Keep the same cell and email address (as much as possible).  
• Manage your electronic contact book and update with all new calls and texts.  
• Include cell and email on email signatures.  
• Google Alerts: Sign up for Google Alerts for items related to your field. This is a free service. Each morning, I wake up to relevant news items in my email box related to medical education and it helps me stay connected with what my colleagues are doing.  
• Holiday texts: Send holiday texts to your friends and connections. It is an easy way to stay connected and relevant to your network.  

Growing as well as maintaining relationships in your network takes a conscious effort and it is not easy. However, I think the rewards that you receive are outstanding. My favorite quote from the Beatles is from the song, “The End.”  

    And in the end 
    The love you take 
    Is equal to the love you make