Effective networking can increase your ability to deliver your project as well as further your project management career. In this episode I discuss what networking is and share suggestions on how to promote your career by building relationships with others in the field.
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What is networking?
- Networking is establishing and maintaining informal relationships with people
whose acquaintance or friendship could bring advantages such as job or business
opportunities. - Isn’t it the essence of what a project manager does? We communicate.
Why Network?
- Studies have shown that 50% of all available job openings are not advertised. Some studies show that number to be as high as 80%.
Networking within your project
Some of the most important networking you can do is within your own organization. As project managers we have a natural opportunity to network while we are leading projects.
- We network with many people during a project such as:
- Stakeholders
- Management
- Team members
- Across disciplines
- Customers
- Networking during a project provides great benefits in a couple of different ways.
- On the Project
- Effective networking improves your ability to deliver the scope of the project.
- Your Career
- Relationships you develop during the project will help you further your career.
- Your ability to network within a project often impacts the next project you are assigned.
- On the Project
Favorite Networking methods
There are several ways we can network. Here are some of my favorite methods to network .
- Person to person (face to face)
- Project Management Events
- PMI Local Chapters
- Attend chapter meetings and other events.
- Volunteer to be on the chapter board.
- Training Classes
- PMI Local Chapters
- Conferences
- PMI’s LIM (Leadership Institute Meeting)
- PMI Global Congress
- Lunch / Restaurants
- Meet with others at for lunch at your favorite restaurant.
- Project Management Events
- How about social media?
- LinkedIn
- Join one of the many project management communities on LinkedIn.
- Connect with Mark Phillipy on LinkedIn.
- Google+
- Twitter
- Connect with Mark on Twitter as @SensiblePM.
- Join in on the weekly #PMChat each Friday at noon eastern time.
- Facebook
- There are many project management communities on Facebook.
- LinkedIn
Comments
Please leave a comment below about networking methods you have found effective in your project management career.
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