Making Your Connections Count: It’s a Two Way Street!

A few weeks ago, I received an email from LinkedIn that my profile was in the top 5 percent of most viewed profiles among their 200 million members.   Some of this is the result of being an early adopter of new platforms and technology applications– I joined LinkedIn eight years ago when just under a million used that site.  And of course it helps to have one of the most common names throughout Mexico and Latin America.  Yet after thinking about this email and all those folks looking at my profile, I was struck by how difficult it can be to manage all the connections and keep people up to date on the interests we might share.  It is even harder to know what exactly anyone person might need or be looking for when they reach out to connect.

Use Your Social Media Connections

No matter how many connections you may have on any of your favorite social media sites, the reality is that we need to do something with those connections in order to create new opportunities either for yourself or for others.  Not much is going to happen simply by liking a Facebook page, or collecting links of people you like.  The real value for you and others is to have a “call to action” for all those in your network.

Do the Ask: Be Clear and Direct with Your Needs

The basic formula for professional networking is to ask and say:  “what can I help you with and here’s what I’m looking for”.   It must be a two way street. Taking it to the next level means you will want to keep your network up to date on what you might be working on so that your contacts can connect you to new possibilities or resources.  This is where strategic use of Twitter, LinkedIn Updates, and your personal blog or a Facebook page dedicated to your interests can bring you the right resources and people to you.   Post information about your projects.  Share what kind of job you are looking to secure.  Talk about the book your reading and why.  Let others know about something you learned and what it offers to people in your line of work or for others who might be in the same stage of your career.

As much as the internet and social media have increased the amount of information we all can access or share, it isn’t worth much if you are not using all that information.  There is no one magic solution for cutting through that noise and getting your message directly to your network.   Be clear and direct about your needs to save others from the challenge of reading between the lines and looking for clues about what you may need.  Too often we hesitate or consider it risky to let people know what we might need.  And yes it’s always wise to state your interests and needs in a professional context.  The amazing reality about most professionals is that they welcome an opportunity to provide you information, share their insights, or connect you with others who can provide you the direction you need.  As long as you reciprocate and demonstrate the respect of receiving valued information, your network will expand and work for you.  Tell me how you are growing your network and what you need at Latina Cubicle Confidential™ or join me live at the next LatinaVIDA.