Dr. Claire Kaye - Networking
Short Biography...
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What is networking?
So this is super simple. Networking is having a chat with somebody and you'll all do it every day without realising.
Why is networking useful in the workplace?
So networking is one of the biggest and most fundamental skills that we all need to use, particularly in the workplace because when we are trying to build an organisation or you're trying to work within a team, it's all about that connectivity. Networks provide lots of different things, meeting new people, lots of resources, new ways of thinking about things, collaborations, how to move forward as a business, and also it's imperative that as somebody within a workplace, that you build a network because it provides huge opportunity, both for you as an individual and also for the organisation. But the best bit is that it's fun meeting new people. Connecting with new people means that you'll get exposed to all different experiences, and that helps you two feel more motivated and more open to new opportunities and experiences yourself.
If I am an introvert, can I still network?
So as an introvert, a lot of people feel that they can't network and it's not for them, and this is not true at all. It's totally possible to network as an introvert, but it's about doing it in a way that works for you. So if you find that walking into a crowded room on your own makes you feel physically sick, or if you feel that actually meeting a new person face to face feels scary, do it in a different way. It might be that you send someone an email or maybe you connect with them on social media or through a WhatsApp. Maybe you speak to people that you kind of know through somebody else as a starting point. All of these make it easier for people who are shy or introverted to network. I'm a shy person and an introvert, and I find networking is really, really useful to my day to day, and I really enjoy it. But that's because I put in steps that actually really work for me. Have a go yourself.