MARKETING
In addition to being an active association participant, get more involved by serving on a committee or board or volunteering to help plan an event or meeting. This will help you establish stronger relationships with other members as you work toward common goals.
Use association directories to find members with similar positions or in geographic regions of interest to you. Don’ t hesitate to send an email or LinkedIn connection request with details on why you reached out and would like to connect. For example, if another facility recently completed a renovation similar to one that you are preparing to execute, you may want to reach out to the manager of that facility to learn about their renovation experience.
Additional tips:
When attending meetings, events and activities, try to sit by somebody you don’ t already know. Introduce yourself and engage in conversation.
Run for office in an organization. Even if you aren’ t elected, this still shows your commitment to your industry and introduces you to the entire membership.
If you don’ t have business cards, order some. You can find easy do-it-yourself options online.
Local organizations
Many cities have clubs that are free to join or have a nominal fee. These groups can help you develop your interpersonal skills and engage with people who have similar interests outside of their professional industry. Your interpersonal skills or transferable skills are often what make you stand out in a job application or impact your leadership ability, so why not enhance those skills while building your network?
A lot of people don’ t realize groups like these exist in their city and accept people from all industries who are interested in the group’ s charge. A quick web or social media search can help you identify some options. Simply search your city and phrases such as“ social media,”“ entrepreneurs,”“ technology,” or“ Toastmasters,” along with“ club,”“ network,” and / or“ meet-up,” and see what you find. Most of these organizations have social media groups you can join, as well as websites where you can access information and a calendar of upcoming events.
You develop new skills through such organizations and build relationships with others outside of your industry, so you can serve as a sort of ambassador to help others learn about your work.
Additional tips: If engaging in a new group sounds intimidating, invite a friend, relative or colleague to join you. Step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. If you find that you don’ t enjoy a group, try something else until you find a good fit.
Volunteering
Look for volunteer opportunities related to your industry and other passions that aren’ t work related. Industry events often need volunteers to help with event preparation and execution. By volunteering, you can build your network while applying your professional skills and expertise. Alternatively, it could be just as beneficial to volunteer to coach a Little League team. This would allow you to give back to the community while meeting new people and expanding your network.
Additional tips:
Keep an eye out for green spaces in your local area( a dog park, for example) that are maintained by non-profit organizations; they may greatly appreciate an industry expert volunteering to maintain their space.
Volunteer for activities that aren’ t related to your field of work.
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