By Paul Diaz, Vice President of Policy, PIR
Establishing and nurturing personal and professional networks is imperative. But, prioritizing networking can be challenging, even more so for non-profit leaders. When you’re focused on making the world better, who has time to schedule coffee dates and attend conferences? Plus, even the idea of networking can feel daunting or unappealing. According to this piece in the Harvard Business Review, www.hbr.org, “Although some people have a natural passion for it—namely, the extroverts who love and thrive on social interaction—many understandably see [networking] as brown-nosing, exploitative, and inauthentic.”
Luckily, according to experts, working your address book and doing good work can go hand in hand. “An effective professional network is a valuable asset to your nonprofit’s goals, if you are leveraging your network in service of your organization’s mission,” says Beth Kanter, author of The Networked Nonprofit, on www.greatnonprofits.org.
Creating connections, even digitally, can help make the process of achieving organizational goals much easier. To simplify it, we’ve put together this guide to non-profit networking. Just say PLEASE in order to connect for success: Prepare First, Listen Well, Engage Efficiently, Always Assist, Stretch Your Comfort Zone, and Evaluate and Classify.
Prepare First
Prior to meeting (either in-person or virtually) with a potential funder, organizational partner, or board member, do your homework. This is easy through Google or other search engines. You can also visit LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media platforms and peruse articles or blog posts they may have penned, making notes where you agree with their points and where you can ask for more information. When you do engage, make an effort to remember little commonalities that you discuss—anything from their hometown or college years to their favorite television shows and hobbies. Knowing a few details from someone’s life and career can help ignite and maintain a meaningful connection. Keep notes on your contacts about their families, jobs, interests, and potential points of collaboration on the back of their business cards, suggests this article on www.helpguide.org. You can also add those same notes to your digital contacts for easy reference.
Listen Well
Active listening is a key component of networking and becoming good at it is a critical quality for any non-profit leader. According to the Harvard Business Review (HBR), www.hbr.org, up to one in four leaders has a “listening deficit.” But according to HBR, this doesn’t have to be the case: “Despite today’s fast-paced business environment, time-starved leaders can master the art” of networking by maintaining eye contact, nodding, and responding thoughtfully. When you listen actively, you learn about your contact’s needs and goals and can find mutual touchpoints of conversation. Active listening shows the speaker that they and their ideas matter, and it gives you all-important insight into how you can best work together.
Engage Efficiently
Networking should be both serendipitous and strategic. Whether you’re in line at the pharmacy, catching up with a neighbor, or attending an online conference, a chance meeting can suddenly become a meaningful opportunity. From a more tactical standpoint, The Berkeley Group, www.theberkeleygroup.org, suggests focusing on: 1) targeted conference attendance, 2) consistent donor communication, 3) diversified community outreach campaigns, and 4) a strong social media presence. And whether your connection arises from happenstance or planning, always be prepared. Have a stack of business cards and your elevator pitch, an approximately two-minute description of your organization’s mission, ready to go.
Always Assist
Help first. Many view networking as a self-serving enterprise, but networking also is about serving others, according to www.helpguide.org. “As human beings, we are wired to connect. So, the real goal of networking should be to re-invigorate existing relationships and develop new ones,” Help Guide advises. In addition, research shows that you must give in order to get; what Science magazine, www.sciencemag.org, calls “the paradox of profit.” When you approach networking with a helping mindset and a generosity of spirit, you encourage those qualities in others. What comes around, goes around.
Stretch Your Comfort Zone
Experiencing anxiety about networking is normal, especially for introverts. According to this article on www.centralexchange.org, “Being an introvert is no longer an excuse to avoid networking—it’s a reason to embrace it. Your introvert tendencies can help you see the core of those around you and connect with them on a deeper level.” Some ways to feel even more confident include bringing along a friend, choosing non-traditional networking activities like trying a new restaurant together or meeting up virtually, and embracing a growth mindset. Also, choosing clothing that makes you feel professional prepares you well for meetings and encourages confidence.
Evaluate and Classify
You’ve worked your connections; now make sure they work for you. This piece in HBR suggests asking yourself, “What benefits do your interactions with [your contacts] provide? How energizing are those interactions?” Once you’ve analyzed your contacts, you can classify them into one of six basic categories: information, political support and influence, personal development, personal support and energy, a sense of purpose or worth, and work/life balance. “Categorizing your relationships will give you a clearer idea of whether your network is extending your abilities or keeping you stuck,” making all of your interactions more efficient, says HBR.
Networking helps your organization in so many important ways. It amplifies your mission, attracts donors, staff, and volunteers, and connects your non-profit with the resources it needs to thrive. Nervous about networking? Need some non-profit connection knowledge? Just say PLEASE.
Establishing and nurturing personal and professional networks is imperative. But, prioritizing networking can be challenging, even more so for non-profit leaders. When you’re focused on making the world better, who has time to schedule coffee dates and attend conferences? Plus, even the idea of networking can feel daunting or unappealing. According to this piece in the Harvard Business Review, www.hbr.org, “Although some people have a natural passion for it—namely, the extroverts who love and thrive on social interaction—many understandably see [networking] as brown-nosing, exploitative, and inauthentic.”
Luckily, according to experts, working your address book and doing good work can go hand in hand. “An effective professional network is a valuable asset to your nonprofit’s goals, if you are leveraging your network in service of your organization’s mission,” says Beth Kanter, author of The Networked Nonprofit, on www.greatnonprofits.org.
Creating connections, even digitally, can help make the process of achieving organizational goals much easier. To simplify it, we’ve put together this guide to non-profit networking. Just say PLEASE in order to connect for success: Prepare First, Listen Well, Engage Efficiently, Always Assist, Stretch Your Comfort Zone, and Evaluate and Classify.
Prepare First
Prior to meeting (either in-person or virtually) with a potential funder, organizational partner, or board member, do your homework. This is easy through Google or other search engines. You can also visit LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media platforms and peruse articles or blog posts they may have penned, making notes where you agree with their points and where you can ask for more information. When you do engage, make an effort to remember little commonalities that you discuss—anything from their hometown or college years to their favorite television shows and hobbies. Knowing a few details from someone’s life and career can help ignite and maintain a meaningful connection. Keep notes on your contacts about their families, jobs, interests, and potential points of collaboration on the back of their business cards, suggests this article on www.helpguide.org. You can also add those same notes to your digital contacts for easy reference.
Listen Well
Active listening is a key component of networking and becoming good at it is a critical quality for any non-profit leader. According to the Harvard Business Review (HBR), www.hbr.org, up to one in four leaders has a “listening deficit.” But according to HBR, this doesn’t have to be the case: “Despite today’s fast-paced business environment, time-starved leaders can master the art” of networking by maintaining eye contact, nodding, and responding thoughtfully. When you listen actively, you learn about your contact’s needs and goals and can find mutual touchpoints of conversation. Active listening shows the speaker that they and their ideas matter, and it gives you all-important insight into how you can best work together.
Engage Efficiently
Networking should be both serendipitous and strategic. Whether you’re in line at the pharmacy, catching up with a neighbor, or attending an online conference, a chance meeting can suddenly become a meaningful opportunity. From a more tactical standpoint, The Berkeley Group, www.theberkeleygroup.org, suggests focusing on: 1) targeted conference attendance, 2) consistent donor communication, 3) diversified community outreach campaigns, and 4) a strong social media presence. And whether your connection arises from happenstance or planning, always be prepared. Have a stack of business cards and your elevator pitch, an approximately two-minute description of your organization’s mission, ready to go.
Always Assist
Help first. Many view networking as a self-serving enterprise, but networking also is about serving others, according to www.helpguide.org. “As human beings, we are wired to connect. So, the real goal of networking should be to re-invigorate existing relationships and develop new ones,” Help Guide advises. In addition, research shows that you must give in order to get; what Science magazine, www.sciencemag.org, calls “the paradox of profit.” When you approach networking with a helping mindset and a generosity of spirit, you encourage those qualities in others. What comes around, goes around.
Stretch Your Comfort Zone
Experiencing anxiety about networking is normal, especially for introverts. According to this article on www.centralexchange.org, “Being an introvert is no longer an excuse to avoid networking—it’s a reason to embrace it. Your introvert tendencies can help you see the core of those around you and connect with them on a deeper level.” Some ways to feel even more confident include bringing along a friend, choosing non-traditional networking activities like trying a new restaurant together or meeting up virtually, and embracing a growth mindset. Also, choosing clothing that makes you feel professional prepares you well for meetings and encourages confidence.
Evaluate and Classify
You’ve worked your connections; now make sure they work for you. This piece in HBR suggests asking yourself, “What benefits do your interactions with [your contacts] provide? How energizing are those interactions?” Once you’ve analyzed your contacts, you can classify them into one of six basic categories: information, political support and influence, personal development, personal support and energy, a sense of purpose or worth, and work/life balance. “Categorizing your relationships will give you a clearer idea of whether your network is extending your abilities or keeping you stuck,” making all of your interactions more efficient, says HBR.
Networking helps your organization in so many important ways. It amplifies your mission, attracts donors, staff, and volunteers, and connects your non-profit with the resources it needs to thrive. Nervous about networking? Need some non-profit connection knowledge? Just say PLEASE.