In today’s highly competitive job market, networking is more important than ever. Building relationships with people in your industry can lead to new opportunities, job offers, and even long-term career growth. Despite this, many people feel uncomfortable or anxious about networking, which can hold them back from achieving their goals. However, overcoming your fear of networking can be a game-changer.
Networking isn’t just about handing out business cards and collecting phone numbers. It’s about building genuine connections with people who share your interests and professional goals. By engaging with others and learning about their experiences, you can gain valuable insights and knowledge that you may not have access to otherwise.
For many people, networking skills are underutilized or avoided completely due to fear and discomfort. It’s been something that I have had to practice many times and still find myself struggling in certain scenarios.
Recently, I went to a networking event for retailers, and I found myself often sticking to the corner of the room trying to find the right people that wouldn’t look at me strangely for introducing myself. If you have ever found yourself in this situation, then there is a great book for you.
I was recently asked to review a book on networking by David R. Olivencia, “NetWORKing Excellence: Building a Strong Value-Based Network in an Accelerating Digital World”. I was obviously intrigued by the topic as it’s a skill that I have yet to master.
Aside from the great networking tips that I began to easily apply, I love how the Author easily connects to his readers through personalized stories.
David uses his experience to create a methodology and approach to networking. Inspired by an amalgamation of books, best practices, mentors, and observing and interviewing great networkers, he shares a clear and simple process for execution.
He starts the book with the importance of deeply understanding yourself. I thought this was a very helpful process in determining where I needed to focus the most.
Then he quickly jumps into his methodology by focusing on some of the following topics:
- How to have SMART goals
- Define and Refine Your Brand
- Execute Disciplined Rituals and Routines (a great way to develop your skills)
- How to Identify and Target the right networks
- Build relationships that add value to your network, and how to measure this value
- How to Master Networking Events – a must read
- Finally, how to scale your value to your social media
The tips David provides is concise and easy to follow. This is a recommended read for anyone wanted to enhance their networking abilities.
David Olivencia is Senior Technology Executive, unicorn investor, and exponential leader. He has leveraged networking and delivered outcomes at leading companies Accenture, NTT Data, Ford, Oracle, Softtek and Verizon, as well as supporting a broad portfolio of early-stage tech startups including several unicorns. David serves on multiple boards that utilize his approach to networks and deep technology expertise and has co-founded leading organizations HITEC and Angeles Investors that have grown due to networking.
David has been recognized as 40 under 40 by Crain’s Detroit Business, Crain’s Chicago Tech 50, and Hispanic Business Magazine’s Most Influential Hispanics in America. He has an engineering degree from Rose-Hulman, an MBA from Notre Dame and an honorary Doctorate from Bentley University.