Developing mindsets and habits that fuel high performance.
Networking is critical to increasing your success as a professional athlete. What is networking? Networking is you consciously building and maintaining various teams of individuals who both support and challenge you. An effective network consists of high-quality relationships with people who come from several different spheres (professional and personal), as well as from up and down the organizational hierarchy.
As a general guideline, an effective core network typically ranges in size from 12 to 18 people. The people in your networking circles should model positive behaviors. This is important because if those around you are energetic, positive, authentic, and generous, you will more likely be the same. There’s an old saying that “like” attracts “like”, so you want to attract only the best!
Let’s begin by exploring how to build, maintain, and grow a network in six super easy steps.
1. Identify your network cluster. First determine where you want to focus your networking efforts. For example, are you interested in creating a network to improve a specific skill level, or a network to help you learn more about the business side of the game? You can have more than one network. Then create a list of contacts to assist you in that particular area.
2. Ask for ideas and advice. Contact each person you identified in Step 1 and say something like, “I’m hoping to get your ideas and advice on _____, and I would appreciate 15 minutes of your time.” This conversation is about telling them about your background and skills, and then asking them for their ideas and advice. As your conversation with them wraps up, ask for the names of a couple of people they recommend you talk with regarding this same topic. Continue that pattern with each conversation so you end the conversation with at least two more people to contact.
3. Be sure to follow-up shortly thereafter with a thank you. Doing so tells the person you just spoke with that you’re grateful for their time, and also helps you to build a long-term relationship with that person to keep them in your network.
4. Another thing you need to make sure to do is to follow up with regular emails or texts updating that person on your progress. A sample email may read as follows, “I thought I’d keep in contact with you and let you know that I met with ______ that you recommended. He was very helpful and provided me with even more information on ______. If you have any other ideas or potential contacts, please let me know. Thanks!”
5. Be sure to keep your network alive and growing. Be on the constant lookout for individuals that you may wish to add to your network.
6. And finally, make sure that you also support others grow their own networks by either becoming a part of their network, and/or sharing your networking contacts with them. The more you give, the more you get. You will find that people’s generosity is limitless if you treat them with respect and show them generosity and appreciation, too!
Overwhelmingly, research continues to show that top performers have strong ties via networks to people who offer them information or expertise, provide mentoring and developmental feedback, add a sense of purpose or worth, validate their work, show them that their work has a broader meaning, or promote their work/life balance by holding them accountable for activities that support all aspects of their life such as family, leisure, recreation, and/or spiritual well-being. A network built with these components will grow exponentially, and continue to support you in all areas of your life.Take Care,
Jerry Hairston, Jr. Lynn R. Miller, Ed.D.
Board Chair & Co-Founder President & Co-Founder
Source: Five Steps to Building Your Network by Douglas R. Conant, HBR Blog, April 21, 2011.
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