Whether you call it networking, collaborating or engagement,  it’s still going to help you do a better job.

Here’s a neat chart that shows examples of using social media on the job, for collaboration, networking and engagement AND for promoting learning. All of these add up to an upbeat and productive environment. And that benefits individuals as well as organizations!

Check it out at the Center for Learning & Performance Technology.   Are you using these social media tools to help you get ahead? Are others using them in your organization? Make a point to learn about one new form of social media and find a way to use it today to network, collaborate or engage with others!

I found a cool presentation about the network learner and am sharing it here with you, because it’s got some excellent information in it. Definitely worth your time!

Thanks to Scott Leslie for sharing this on SlideShare.  As an instructional designer, and as someone who is passionate about networking, I must say that Scott did a great job in describing and illustrating the direction that the training and performance improvement field is is going, in our fast paced, digital world.

Let me know your thoughts about PLEs (Personal Learning Environments), Crowdsourcing, and Social Learning.

Click here to take a look: Becoming a Network Learner

(If you like this, be sure to follow me on Twitter, because this is what I tweet about most.)

Answer True or False for each of these statements:

1. If I make a good first impression, my contacts will stay in touch with me.

False. It takes 6-8 interactions for people to remember you and for you to “register” on their radar screen. Even if you make a great impression when you meet someone, it’s rare that they would stay in touch with you, without your follow up. It’s important to stay in touch and continue to get to know them and to teach them what you do and what types of leads/resources you are looking for. It’s equaly important to continue to get to know them, and to learn more about their strengths and networking needs.

2. I only need to focus on face to face networking.

False. You need to use social media in addition to face-to-face in order to build therelationships. With the average American having 250 business contacts, it’s virtually impossible to stay in touch and develop relationships with everyone. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitterare excellent ways to stay in touch and get better acqauinted.

3. If you appeal to a potential contact’s need to feel important by asking for advice and help, you’ll surely land an appointment.

True and False! People in general are good, and are willing to help, but more importantly: Don’t kid yourself that they are sitting around waiting for job searchers to call and ask for help on their marketing plans. It’s a two-way street. GIVE them a WIIFM for what you can do for them. People are networking more these days. There are only so many hours in a day. So, you can’t just say “Fred suggested that we meet.” Fred can give you an intro, but you have to give your contact a WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) for WHY should they take their time to meet with you/what you can do for them.

4. I’ve got job security, so I don’t need to network.

False. Information has never changed faster, so to stay up on the latest information, trends and best pratices and to succeed in your job, you need to leverage your face-to-face and social networks.  Old School: Networking is a necessary evil for job seekers. New School: Networking is the way to get an edge and stay current on the latest information.

5. Talk about your personal life, when networking; don’t always keep conversations strictly business-related.

True. We’re all multi-faceted, people are drawn to those that have similar interests. So ask people what they like to do when they are not working. Share your latest hobbies and ambitions. It’s a way to show people what you are all about and you may even make a new friend or exercise partner.

How did you do? Did you get all 5 right?

If you did, jot me a note in the comment form on this blog, along with your name and I’ll enter your name in a drawing for a free book, Make Your Contacts Count.

Networking has become synonymous with informal learning.  How did that happen? Well, today’s business world moves rapidly and change is a constant; new technologies emerge daily. We’re more connected and networked and share more information than ever before.

Old school: Networking is a “necessary evil to get a job.” 

New school: Networking is a professional competency that helps us DO our jobs well. 

The Internet makes it easy to access information and to get acquainted with people in far away places. To stay “ahead of the game” in this current environment, individuals and organizations need to be “up to the minute” with the latest and greatest information. 

Business is more competitive than ever and information changes sooner. By the time an article goes to print, much of the information it contains is no longer current. Similarly, by the time a training need is identified and a course is designed, the content is out of date.  

This phenomenon has paved the way for the growth of informal learning. It is imperative to be connected so you can stay on top of the latest and greatest.

In the past, learning took place through formal, instructor-led training. In the late 80’s and 90’s, changes began to occur with the advancement of Web and e-learning technologies. In 2001, between the decreased travel due to 9/11 and a weak economy in the years that followed, less formal training took place due to travel and budget restrictions. 

Companies looked for less expensive alternatives and the trend has moved toward on-demand, learned-centered “un-training” where workers are highly engaged and collaborate more. Working =  Learning and Learning = Working. “Un-training” must be easily accessible, more relevant and meaningful.

Studies show that people learn far more from peers on the job, than they do it formal training programs (70 20 10). Their facile search and find skills enable them to systematically identify what they need to learn and who the go-to people are so they can combine people and technology to get up to speed quicker than ever.  

New technologies emerge daily, and engagement and collaboration have become the norm. Information, resources and best practices are shared more often and more easily. Standards and expectations are higher than ever. People don’t stay in jobs as long and take valuable information with them when they move on.

It’s a competitive, rapidly-changing world where one “wins by a nose.” Those not “in the race” who are not leveraging Web 2.0 technologies and with their face-to-face relationships are left behind.

Read more about how  emerging technologies, social media, engagement and networking impact the way we learn and succeed in today’s world.

Social Media for Knowledge Workers: eLearning Technology   (Tony Karrer)

Informal Learning (Jay Cross)

Training and Social Media Handbook (Jane Hart)

The Future Business of Learning for Suppliers (Charles Jennings)

Seek, Sense, Share  (Harold Jarche)

Informal and Formal Learning Tool (Clark Quinn)

ADDIE Wasn’t Even There to See It   (Jane Bozarth)

I saw something highly unusual yesterday and I want to share it. It was a detailed and sincere thank you note.

 John Luce sent a “Landing Notice” to his network and thanked many of the people who have helped in along the way. I had the good fortune to meet John through a Search Team I led for the Career Navigator at the United Way. He struck me as an intelligent, positive leader. He was always energetic, willing to share and help out and he did it in an authentic, “nice guy next door” way that made it easy to get to know him and like him.

So, when I saw his email note thanking and acknowledging scores of people who had helped him along the way, I wasn’t surprised. What continues to surprise me though is how most people do NOT take the time to thank others for their help. That makes people like John, who are sincerely thankful and appreciative stand out over and above the rest!

Think about it, who are you most apt to help? Someone who is appreciative and who stays in touch in a genuine manner, or someone who takes your time with no thanks and does not take interest in you, nor stays in touch. It’s a no-brainer! In addition to showing appreciation along the way, John did many things well in his networking endeavors, so I asked him to share his BEST PRACTICES.

 Here are more tips from John, based on what worked well for him:

• “Networking. Note that it’s not Net-Talking, Net-Meeting, Net-Eating; it’s Net-Working. It’s work and it was absolutely helpful in my job search. It was a lot of work, I typically worked at it from 30-60 hours each week (studying, learning, meeting with people and strategizing).
• It was a lot of fun.
• You’ve got to be organized. I kept track of every activity Monday through Sunday. From online and F2F networking, phone calls, webinars, conferences and seminars to who I met, where I spent my time, where leads came from and what I learned from it.
• You need some “Me Time” to do something you love and to rejuvenate. I scheduled that in to my time each week.
• You have to have a good support system; understanding family and friends are a must. Spend time with positive people who encourage you. I now appreciate my wife and family and friends even more.
• I met a lot of wonderful, intelligent, giving people; more in the past 6 months, than I have met in the last 20 years!
• When networking, you can always learn, and find a “nugget” of wisdom or good information. Stay open and be willing to learn from others.
• Get comfortable with the fact that you’re unemployed and start talking to people about it. Educate them about what you’re good at and what you’re looking for. Ask them to keep their eyes and ears open for you as well.
• I found Toastmasters to be helpful as well. It’s a great opportunity to improve your speaking and leadership abilities, especially useful when job searching.
• Always be willing to help others. This “Abundance” mentality works; give first, and things will come back to you.”
• Learn about others and help them.
• I wasn’t aware of the full value: After many years in the workforce, it was refreshing to learn that networking not only helps you find a job, it also helps you in your day-to-day life. Need an electrician? A contractor? You’ll know who to call when you’re well-networked. Similarly, when you need to stay on top of trends and best practices in your job, your network will provide them to you.” 

While John said he has always felt comfortable talking to others, he did not know, at first, HOW to network, nor what to say or do. He learned from others who were willing to learn and share as well. Remember, your open-mindedness will only help you in your endeavors.

John has made networking a way of life. He’s going to the Digital Rochester event at Max’s tonight and plans to continue to keep up his network/support system. If you see him, be sure to thank him for his tips and contributions!

He hit on something that I believe as well, “Today’s networking is not your grandfather’s networking — you can’t just stay home and send out emails. You have to get out their and work. Let people help you and be willing to help them!”

John recently landed at Excellus. He’s excited about the opportunity and is keenly aware of how his professional competencies in networking will help him do an excellent job in his new role.

I’ve been asked this question so many times lately that I decided to re-post this blog entry from last fall. 

What are your thoughts? Do you have any insights or coments to add? I’d love to hear from you.

What is an Instructional Designer and Why Should Anyone Care?

In this age of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and blogs, we’re becoming a much more open and collaborative culture, eager to share and learn. Networking is the new “normal” and most professionals who I meet ‘get’ that.

Social media is growing in huge leaps and bounds and it’s changing our culture in the way we learn and do business. The United States Patent and Trade Office states that there were under 10 social media patent applications published in 2003 and in 2008, there were over 1000. This represents 250% per year growth!

Recently, I heard someone speak with disdain about social media, saying “It’s a fad. People can’t possibly have 200 friends.” To that, I respond, “You can, and once you “get into” networking, you’ll see that you do know that many people!”

Keep in mind, it’s not as simple as Facebook puts it; friend or not. There are different levels of contacts that we all have, from an acquaintance (someone we’ve met once) to colleagues we see often, to close confidantes, who help us when times are tough and who celebrate our successes with us. The average number of contacts for professionals in the U.S> is 250.

The reason we ‘friend’ someone, or connect with them is because we share interests and have commonalities. Therefore, may of us who ‘run in the same circle’ are connected to each others’ friends, as mutual contacts. When we network with our core group, we typically find similar information ad opportunities.

When we branch out to others that we don’t know as well, it transports us to different circles, and exposes us to new clusters of people.  These ‘weaker’ contacts, that we don’t know as well (yet) are actually the strongest because they provide new opportunities.

Research in ‘clustering’ began almost 40 years ago.  As Wikipedia states: “Mark Granovetter is an American sociologist at Stanford University who has created theories in modern sociology since the 1970s. He is best known for his work in social network theory and in economic sociology, particularly his theory on the spread of information in social networks known as “The Strength of Weak Ties” (1973).”

Networking is not a new concept. The technologies are new and growing significantly and its difficult to predict how things will look in one year, let alone 5 or 10 years.

One thing is certain, change will happen. While it’s practical to predict that new social media venues are coming, and they may replace or reside along with the current ones, good old fashioned networking is not going away. The open collaboration and sharing that we see in social networking and informal learning is not a fad.

Millions of people are finding ways to connect with new people, share best practices and learn about trends … and that literally does make it  a small world after all.

What are your thoughts? Who have you met and what have you learned lately that has helped you in your business endeavors?

Most of us shudder at the thought of failure.

Here’s a new perspective:

“Failure.

It’s a moment in time … not your destiny.”

Check out this interview on 9News, the ABC affiliate in Colorado. It features TC North, Ph.D., a high performance small business consultant who has also mentally trained Olympic and professional athletes. In this clip, he puts Lindsey Vonn’s recent spill into perspective.

Instead of being discouraged about setbacks, North notes that Olympians have the ability to overcome failure, accept it and learn from it. He draws the analogy of success to a race, and says that Olympians can endure knowing they are in a marathon versus a short sprint. Olympians position failure “as part of the process instead of seeing it as the end of the road.”

Some times it takes a failure, or a performance that doesn’t measure up to our usual standards, for us to take a step back, reflect, and learn. Just as the Chinese use a similar symbol for crisis and for challenge, let’s try to shift gears and equate failure to learning.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could put more of a positive spin on things? How refreshing it must be to develop this Olympic-type ‘teflon coating,’ and let things roll off our backs without being discouraged? Doesn’t it seem better to find a lesson instead of losing faith?

Whether you’re in a job or hunting for one, you’re bound to have ups and downs, failures and successes. As Calvin Coolidge said, “Press On. Nothing takes the place of persistence.”

Next time you face failure, look it square in the eye, reflect on it, learn from it and become a better person because of it. Remember, all learning matters and your ability to learn from mistakes will lead you to more success.

TC North is a superb coach, comes highly recommended and works with professionals around the world. He can help you learn and maximize your success! Visit him at www.tcnorth.com.

People often ask me how to use LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook when networking.
It’s easy! You simply need to leverage your face-to-face networking skills and use them in the social media arena.

How? I’m glad you asked. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Listen carefully to your connections/followers/fans.

Give first; offer ideas that will help them:
- Answer Questions on LinkedIn to bolster your industry credibility
- Use RTs on Twitter to ‘give PR’ to other follower’s tweets
- Comment or click LIKE on Facebook postings to build  relationships.

Your network is created by the conversations you have in person and online. Nurture and cultivate the relationships you have with those individuals. Every interaction is an opportunity. When you connect with someone, look for commonalities.

- Talk to strangers.
- Send direct messages to thank people for following you on Twitter.
- Acknowledge and reply to status updates on LinkedIn.
- Comment on pictures, videos and posts on Facebook.

Networking isn’t TAKING, it’s an exchange of information. It’s LEARNING about your contacts and TEACHING them what you’re good at and what kinds of opportunities you are interested in. Go slow and steady as you build relationships online. Let people get to know you and give them a chance to see your character and competence before going for the SELL and pitching your product!

Network strategically. What bottom-line results are you looking for? Create a plan to get there. Determine which audience makes most sense to follow/develop relationships with and then connect/friend/become fans of those people. Get to know them, help them, and build relationships with those audiences.

Be honest and upfront. When there are no mysteries, and everyone is ‘above board’, there is no manipulation. While it’s important to GIVE; don’t be afraid to point people to your blog or site.  Highlight actions and results into your success stories and weave them into your posts and articles. Let people get to know you and see your abilities and accomplishments.

Share your ideas and resources – think of contributions you can make that your audience will appreciate; that will let them know what you, or your clients (or your clients’ products) can do to solve their problems. Continued interaction increases your network’s net worth. Keep in touch and end conversations assuming that you will stay in touch and develop the relationship. It takes time (MONTHS) to develop a relationship with someone, so start now.

If you’re not networking, you’re not working to your fullest. Networking is not just for job hunters, it’s a necessary competency in today’s world to help you do your job better and be more productive. Use your blog, website, LinkedIn status and tweets to create a well-balanced combination of sharing information and calls to action. In time, as you nurture your contacts, you will be surprised at how you are able to capitalize on them as well. When you have sincere, mutually beneficial relationships, business is sure to follow.