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Keys to Effective Networking By Nate K. Johnson

nate@livingstl.com

One of the most important aspects of effective networking is to have a clear understanding of who you are and how you are going to present yourself to the people that you are meeting. In essence, “What is your brand?” When I ask about your brand, I’m not asking what company you work for, or about your specific job title. Those things may need to be communicated at some point, but our goal here is to get across who you are as a person. This is what you really want to communicate to the people you interact with when you are out in the community. This is where your 30 second elevator speech comes in. This helps you to quickly and effectively convey your message to the person that you are meeting.

A good way to learn about the person that you are interacting with is to ask your FROG questions, which are family, recreation, occupation, and goals. People love talking about themselves, I know that I do! When you are asking people about these aspects of their lives, then it gives you an opportunity to understand how you can help them. Zig Ziglar, the motivational speaker often said “If you help people get what they want, then they are going to help you get what you want.” So, if you genuinely come from a space of “what can I do for you, how I can help you”, you’ll find that it is going to be reciprocated exponentially. When you are asking these questions, make sure that you engaged in the conversation. It’s not a good look to have your eyes wandering to look for the next connection. It’s also disheartening when it is obvious that you are not listening, and just waiting for your turn to talk. In the words of the Greek philosopher Epictetus, “We have two ears and one mouth, so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

Whether someone is looking for a business connection, or a tennis partner, an endorsement goes a long way. Think about the last time that you needed a professional service. How did you go about finding a quality professional? If you are like me, you asked someone that you trust for a recommendation. In some cases, you may have pulled a name out the phone book, or called off of an ad. I’m sure that you were much more apprehensive with a “cold call”, as opposed to the “warm handoff” that you received from someone that you trust. It works the same way with a variety of experiences. When someone is looking for a talented person to help them achieve a business goal, they are probably not going to start with Monster.com, they are going to ask someone for a recommendation.

Nurturing a network is extremely important. One has to work to find ways to stay in touch with the people that we meet. The reality is that if we meet today, you are likely to forget who I am within a week if I don’t stay in touch with you. As a real estate professional, I work hard to create and maintain “top of mind” awareness. It’s a tragedy for me, when I run into to someone that I’ve previously met, and they say “I just bought a house, I should’ve remembered to call you!” The truth of the matter is that I should’ve stayed in touch with them to make sure that they couldn’t forget about me. What I’m really trying to say is that I should’ve worked harder to form a relationship and build a bond with that person.

You’ll want to develop a plan on how you will stay connected with the people that you meet. Gary Keller, the author of the Millionaire Real Estate Agent, talks about a formula that suggests that if you meet someone today, you will need to “touch” them eight times within an eight week period. This approach works to create “top of mind” awareness, and a foundation for a relationship. Once you have achieved this goal, it is necessary to continue to communicate with, or “touch” the person another 25 times throughout the course of the year. This aims to maintain the top of mind awareness that you have created. I know that it seems a little “stalkerish” to reach out to someone that often. However, we don’t have to call them, or show up on their doorstep 32 times a year. We have so many different ways to communicate with people, and it’s really important to figure out ways to connect with people in a way that it is not creepy. For example, we can call them, send them an email, connect with them on Linkedin, follow them on Twitter, friend them on Facebook, and drop them a note in the mail. Those levels of communication cut down on the creep factor while you are learning about how you can help them. If you were paying attention in your initial conversation, then you would have truly learned something about the person that you are seeking to connect with. Assuming that is the case, it should not be too tough for you to stay in touch with a person eight times over the eight week period. Social media has done a great job of presenting avenues for us to stay connected with people without having to call them or knock on their door. Let’s remember, however, that in order for us to go deeper into the relationship, we need to pick up the phone.

The key to successful networking is to remember that you are building a community of friends and associates. The definition of community revolves around a group of interacting people living in a common location, organized around common goals. Keep this in mind as you work towards building successful relationships.

April Spotlight - Javania Michelle Webb, MA

What is your social-media-of-choice right now?
I have been on Facebook since college, and it kind of fell off when Twitter came into town.  When I was working a job where I could not have my phone for the whole shift I kind of stopped being on both but my love for Instagram did not go away.  Now that I am into decorating my apartment I stalk Pintrest at all times.  I love all of the different ideas I learn from other crafty people.

What is one of your biggest ambitions? 

To help the youth (mainly our girls) gain back their voice by knowing how to set boundaries for others when it comes to self-worth, self esteem, feeling pressured by others around them to fit into the crowd of the moment.  Helping them know that they can be their selves and not someone else.

What attracted you to YNPN?
I wanted to join a member organization that was geared to nonprofits so that I could continue to learn about the sector.  I received my Master’s Degree from Lindenwood in Non Profit Administration I did not do an internship while in school and this group can help with me gaining more experience.

What's one of your personal favorite hidden gems in St. Louis?
Sweet Art.  It a vegan family owned restaurant in Tower Grove/ Shaw neighborhood that has the BEST red velvet cupcakes.  I have been working on my health that includes watching what I put in my mouth and Sweet Art helps me cheat a little! J  Also the south side has so much culture and it reminds me of home, which is Chicago.

One thing that excites you about the nonprofit sector?
Focusing on helping people not money.  I am oriented to making sure that our youth will be prepared to run this country in a couple of years, so the nonprofit sector paves the way for this.
 
Tell us something unique about your experience as a young professional. 
I am currently in the process of working on building my business which details me speaking to youth in healthy workshops that are set up like forums.  So many of our youth are out here thinking that they are grown because parents are not there, parents are in the club with their children.  So I what I aim to do is to divide that healthy boundary.

Thursday, March 21 from 2 -5 PM

Fee: $25

J.C. Penney Conference Center, UMSL

This technical assistance workshop will provide a comprehensive overview for how to plan a real estate development project whether your nonprofit organization is considering growing, consolidating or co-locating.  The workshop will also cover key financing considerations including capital campaigns, underwriting and the current economic environment. 

Participants will learn to anticipate and prepare for each step. From planning through pre-development to construction, key concepts are illustrated using real-life scenarios for new construction or major rehabilitation projects. This workshop is ideal for executive directors, operations managers, or other senior staff and board members of nonprofit corporations considering a real estate project in the next 24 months.

For more information and to register, visit pcs.umsl.edu/npml or call (314) 516-5655.

*Light snacks will be provided.  

AFP St. Louis Young Professionals Happy Hour

“Spring into Your Fundraising Career” with the AFP Young Professionals!

March 20th
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Vida Cantina
1137 Saint Louis Galleria
St. Louis, MO 63117


Join us on the first day of spring for a moderated Q&A panel with some of the best fundraisers in St. Louis!

Panelists Include:
Linda Haley, CFRE, Chief Development Officer, Youth Learning Center
Bret Heinrich, CFRE, Director of Advancement, The OASIS Institute
Pat Rich, ACFRE, Principal, EMD Consulting Group, LLC
Laura Rossmann, CFRE, Executive Director, Cancer Support Community

This event is $5 for members and $10 for guests.
Complimentary appetizers and happy hour drink specials will be available.

Register here:

http://www.cvent.com/events/afp-st-louis-march-20-2013-young-professionals-happy-hour/event-summary-1b1190c0275d49a59b2ea5494a09bf79.aspx?i=eec7bee1-370d-4471-95f9-4b593224b9a8

March 4, 2013

Dear YNPN Members,

I am both sad and excited to announce that I will resign as President of YNPNSTL on March 4, 2013, as I will be transitioning out of the nonprofit sector and relocating to Orlando, FL this summer to pursue a career with Disney.

Although my 2013 Presidential term has been short, I sincerely enjoyed my experience with YNPNSTL. As the President in 2013 and Co-Marketing Chair in 2012, I had the honor of working with genuine community partners and networking with fun and ambitious young nonprofit professionals. I will forever have amazing memories of Blog Out Loud, YNPN’s signature annual event, and I encourage all young and seasoned nonprofit professionals to attend this year to support innovation in the St. Louis community while creating some unforgettable memories of your own.

I am proud to announce Liz Singer as YNPNSTL’s new President! Liz’s genuine passion for community work, eagerness to grow professionally, and fun attitude make her an ideal representative of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network St. Louis Chapter. You may recognize Liz at YNPN events and in the community by her red hair, big smile, and passion for the St. Louis nonprofit community. Liz Singer may be reached at chiowiz@aol.com, and you may view her bio at ynpnstl.org.

It was truly an honor to be President of YNPNSTL from January to March 2013, and I wish the YNPN Board of Directors, advisory board, and amazing members all the best! It is our members’ loyal participation, sky-high aspirations, and fun personalities that inspire our local nonprofits to seek out YNPN for potential employees, and I look forward to hearing about YNPNSTL’s continued growth and impact from Orlando.

Thank you for your support and involvement!

Sincerely,

Abby Raesly

March New Member Spotlight -  Alex Sullivan!

What is your social-media-of-choice right now?

I am not the most connected social media user, as I only have a Facebook and LinkedIN accounts. However, I have been a member on LinkedIN for several years, but am finally just starting to use it as a networking tool as I begin to look for a job (I graduate in May). So, I guess I would say that I am getting the best use out of LinkedIN at for the time being.

What is one of your biggest ambitions?

I studied abroad my junior year of college, but never really got the living abroad itch out of my system. I am not sure how feasible that looks for me at the time being, but I am keeping my options open. Living in a Spanish-speaking country again is definitely on my 'bucket list.'

What attracted you to YNPN?

I heard about YNPN from one of my past professors and thought it would be a great opportunity for me as I start my career in the Social Work sector in the St. Louis area.

What's one of your personal favorite hidden gems in St. Louis?

I was born and raised in St. Louis, but spent a few years living in Colorado, which gave me a love for the outdoors. Although not directly in St. Louis, there are some great hikes on the outskirts of the city: Chubb Trail, Weldon Spring's Lewis and Clark Trail, and Cuivre River State Park are some of my favorite day-drive hikes right now. Missouri has a beautiful landscape and its outdoorsy gems are often overlooked. If you are not much of a walker/hiker, just drive down Highway 44 on a nice fall day and you will get the same feel!

One thing that excites you about the nonprofit sector?

I think that the nonprofit sector is really breaking into some great new technologies and practices that intrigue me. Although the nonprofit sector is inevitably behind science and business, I think that there are some really great things happening as collaboration becomes a bigger push for funders. Collaboration allows for bigger and better things to happen; less reinvention of the wheel and more working together to get great results.

Tell us something unique about your experience as a young professional.

My first real job after college was working for a private probation company in Colorado. This experience was definitely one of a kind for a 22 year old that did not have much experience or knowledge with the law more or less the offenders of the law! This experience definitely shaped/solidified my desire to work with youth. I think there is so much more that can be done in the prevention realm, as opposed to the punishment/restoration realm. So as much as I learned from that experience, I walked away with the social work mentality of wanting to help and make a difference for the people I work with before it is too late.

Tell us a little about yourself.

James Casey was born in Naples, Italy, to both parents serving in the US Navy, and transplanted to St. Louis in 1994. He spent over eleven years in the US Army Reserve and deployed three times to Iraq. Near the end of his enlistment he applied for, and was awarded a fellowship with The Mission Continues. He found a new passion and drive to serve others, much like he had in the Army, by uniting volunteers in service projects.

James lives in St. Louis with Rachel and Lucille, wife and daughter, and serves as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Service Projects team at The Mission Continues. He has a renewed vigor to change the way our society interacts with veterans. Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, minor Traumatic Brain Injury, and various other injuries, he knows the struggles related to reintegration. With a desire to serve, lead, and inspire, he is having a great impact across America.

What is your social-media-of-choice right now?

My social media of choice right now is Twitter.  I am intrigued at how it has the capability to mobilize communities and nations to action.

What is one of your biggest ambitions?

I have a strong desire to oversee a volunteer program that directly impacts the education of children. 

What attracted you to YNPN?

It is a great opportunity to learn about other nonprofits in St. Louis and the amazing work that is happening in our community.

What's one of your personal favorite hidden gems in St. Louis?

Crown Candy Kitchen in North St. Louis has the best malts and tamales.

One thing that excites you about the nonprofit sector?

There is an endless need for support and a workforce that truly cares about those they are serving.

Tell us something unique about your experience as a young professional!

I am exposed to the amazing work other veterans are doing across the nation.  I have the opportunity to inspire others and be inspired by their service.