Okay, so you're ready to give to your network. Here is a random list of ideas for giving in face-to-face situations. Come back Friday for a list of virtual actions you can take to give more to your network.
Ideas to try the next time you meet with folks you don't know very well
- Go in with the goal of meeting one or two people and figuring out how you can help them. Then follow up!
- Give your focused attention - eyes, ears and mind - to the person you are speaking with. Don't let your eyes wander around the room looking for the next target. That just makes the person you are speaking with feel small. Better to really attend to the one person, and meet fewer people superficially.
- Learn the names of a couple of folks and remember them. In your conversation, use their first name several times to cement the neuro pathways in your brain. If you are in a more formal meeting, try Wendy Boswell's idea of drawing a map.
- Try Keith Ferrazzi's idea, and say, "You're wonderful. Tell me more." (Never Eat Alone
, p. 155).
- If you know two people who don't yet know each other, bring them together.
- As Karin suggests, look for ways to give advice, help, recognition and tips to the people you meet.
- Smile!
Ideas to try with your team at work
- Understand the principles of servant leadership, and work toward embodying them in your daily work.
- Focus on the positive. Notice good things and say thanks. In a new book, 12: The Elements of Great Managing, Rodd Wagner and James K. Harter, Ph.D., describe Gallup research on the power of recognition and praise. Gallup has found that "teams with a high quotient of recognition and praise perform better than those with relatively more correction or sniping." And by "high quotient" they mean "5.6 times more positive than negative comments." Wow! Time to get to work finding the good! (Note that they also cite research that giving praise increases the happiness of the person giving the praise.)
- Need another push to recognize the positive? Read this lovely post by Michael McKinney.
- Ask your direct reports how you can help them succeed. Then do it!
- Give your direct reports the gift of honest feedback. Just remember to work hard to find things to praise (see above).
- Help them set clear goals.
- Give them the gift of your time, attention, ears and eyes.
- Learn what they do best, and give them the opportunity to do more of it.
- Smile!
