We just had a fabulous Q&A in the CFO–Career–Forum on internal and external networking. While some executives take to networking like a duck to water, it doesn’t always come as easily to those in the finance field.
So when I stumbled across Liz Ryan’s excellent article on the differences between entrepreneurial and coporate networkers, I had to share it with you. Here’s what got my attention, because it validates the discussion we had last week in the Forum …
“The difference between corporate types and entrepreneurial ones was really brought home to me when I attended an all-corporate event here in Denver. I couldn’t figure out why the audience was downright torpid. Finally, a friend of mine pulled me aside and said: "Their companies have sent these folks. Each company bought a table and sent over enough employees to fill it. They don’t see the need to network, and see things like this as an obligation."
“Then I understood why this group was so lackluster—and I couldn’t help comparing them to the entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs were jazzed to meet one another, while the corporate people milled about in their own company groupings, speaking to strangers as little as possible.”
“How can a person read the newspaper and listen to the radio and not realize that what seems like the world’s most secure corporate job could be gone tomorrow? I would hate to be a laid-off corporate person hitting the networking circuit for the first time when I desperately needed a new job.”
I just posted an article on Networking from a recruiter’s perspective at the CMI Blog. And here’s the bottom line: networking is a long–term career management strategy that can position you so you never have look for a job again.
As a finance executive in today’s volatile market, wouldn’t it make sense to devote 5–10 minutes a day in a professional development activity that can help you land your next opportunity … particularly if it meant you never had to hunt for your next position?
This post rings a bell, being myself an ex-executive in Finance, and now an entrepreneur, trying endlessly to align people and business and helping leaders to be more connected to their true self to be able to reach others! I’ve noticed that many people are stucked in their roles and positions that they don’t give themselves the permission to “become themselves”. It is all the more true in finance, where it is considered as a duty to be serious, politicaly correct, distant, and sometimes inhuman not to reveal any emotions… Have you ever seen a financial market feeling something???
I think that brand strategist has a key role to play in helping companies and people work on their values, passions, missions, not only because it is interesting to know oneself better, but also because one person who is doing what he(she) likes as a great chance to be more efficient than one who is desperatly trying to find a direction in his (her) life.
I’m convinced that this awareness will spred even in finance, and that bankers will also discover the virtues of networking and get Jazzed! Some already does….
This post rings a bell, being myself an ex-executive in Finance, and now an entrepreneur, trying endlessly to align people and business and helping leaders to be more connected to their true self to be able to reach others! I’ve noticed that many people are stucked in their roles and positions that they don’t give themselves the permission to “become themselves”. It is all the more true in finance, where it is considered as a duty to be serious, politicaly correct, distant, and sometimes inhuman not to reveal any emotions… Have you ever seen a financial market feeling something???
I think that brand strategist has a key role to play in helping companies and people work on their values, passions, missions, not only because it is interesting to know oneself better, but also because one person who is doing what he(she) likes as a great chance to be more efficient than one who is desperatly trying to find a direction in his (her) life.
I’m convinced that this awareness will spred even in finance, and that bankers will also discover the virtues of networking and get Jazzed! Some already does….
Hi Cindy, Hi Elodie!
Cindy, thanks for a great, and much needed, post. “Get Jazzed!” makes a great point, and I agree that devoting minutes a day to professional development can help financial professionals (and other “corporate types”) not only land their next opportunity but enhance their value in their current position.
Elodie I’m glad to see you relate your experience in a comment on this post. Also, having experience working with both entrepreneurs and with finance executives, I too have seen a reluctance of corporate folks to connect with people outside of their immediate circle; and when they do, it’s rarely with the exuberance of an entrepreneur.
And Elodie, as you pointed our in our last Skype call, it seems that the people who connect best with others are people who are most connected to themselves; allowing authenticity and passion to drive communications makes a huge difference both for individuals and for the organizations they represent!
Bottom line: This makes a great case for personal branding, at the enterprise level for aligning personal and corporate brands, and at the individual level as a career management tool.
Networking is not just for exeutives. I know this the market for this blog, but I am in career transition and am having a blast networking my way into someone’s office and getting “advice” on who I should be meeting, contacting, etc. Maybe the person will want me in the process. Some tips, let the person know you are wanting a job from them or through them. This takes tremendous pressure off their shoulders, they open up and are actively involved in listening and giving advice. A way to practically start is check out the local societies. In my case it was the ASTD and ODC. They will know someone who knows someone. This is a “Who do you know game?” Not much has changed since Little League, but it is the game so you need to know the game. Secondly, marketting yourself (like the branding) is also important. To really impress, sell yourself, not just another seat filler. Figuring out your talents is also important; these are not skills or personalities. They are key habits that you have been practicing all along.
Linkedin is a great advantage, at least for me. I have met so many people willing to help it is crazy. The linkedin connection is a good starting point b/c if you are on it that means that you do not mind being contacted. Executives use it too. A focus company of mine has an executive on it, the temptation grows to introduce myself and set up a meeting. Maybe one day.
Good luck.
Thanks Elodie and Walter for some great follow up comments to the Get Jazzed post. I appreciate your insight.
Your posts prove that you both get creating an online identity and that you both understand the concept of networking – congrats to you both!
Cindy Kraft
the CFO-Coach
http://www.cfo-career-forum.com
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Interesting perspective JQ. I believe that asking for a job PUTS a tremendous amount of pressure on a contact – and can actually shut down a relationship. Jobs are almost impossible to deliver. Asking for specific contacts, on the other hand, is an easy thing to do and one most people are happy to do.
Cindy Kraft
the CFO-Coach
http://www.cfo-career-forum.com