By Liz Townsend Bird, The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, Women’s Network Chair
Hello! I hope you all are soaking up the final days of summer as you wrap up vacations, prepare for school to start, and embark on new adventures. Farewell summer. Sigh…
This month, the Women’s Network Programming Committee brings back one of our most popular topics: Networking! When we ask our members what they want out of their membership, the overwhelming response is opportunities for networking in the community. The leadership team and committees of Women’s Network take this feedback to heart and work hard to create relevant events and activities throughout the year that focus on connection, empowerment and engagement to ensure a positive ROI of your time and financial resources.
Our theme this year, We Rise By Lifting Others, ties in perfectly with networking. It’s the perfect combination of investing in yourself while also helping others be successful. I hope you find great value in honing your networking skills for continued professional and personal growth.
Here are some thoughts on how to get the most out of your networking efforts. According to entrepreneur.com, “Effective networking is about building relationships with others who can refer you once they’ve come to trust you, have confidence in you and feel loyal to you. This truly is the key to networking success.”
- Always have your business cards ready
- Be authentic and take the time to foster a real connection
- Focus on quality of engagement, not quantity
- Offer your assistance or expertise
- Set yourself up for follow up communication
Happy Networking!
Liz Townsend Bird
Women’s Network Chair, 2022-23
Director of Development
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri
#Rise&Lift