Networking for Growth

Thinking about a possible collaboration, and engagement in the team.

I appreciated the place of networking for growth when I paid a courtesy call at the office of a director in an educational institution. The professor placed a call across to me for an appointment. He told me he was calling me concerning a research project my team was undertaking for which a mail was sent to the generality of staff of his institution of affiliation. I didn’t think twice to see him in his office after confirming a training for some international participants I was to serve as an assistant convener that day is no longer taking place. I was already thinking about a possible collaboration, and maybe engagement in his team. Although he mentioned that during the one-hour discussion, I gained much more. I enjoyed the conversation. I am sharing with you in the next paragraphs some sidenotes on networking for growth which I derived from the discussion. The salient tips center around communication issues to gain the best from similar opportunities for growth in any profession. Here we go!

Prepare ahead if you have an appointment. He asked me about the projects and keeps narrowing his questions down to gain more insight into what I am doing. Finally, he began to raise some issues on the subject matter. The tail end of the discussion provided an answer to a suggestion that an expert on the area raise in an email communication before I met with the director. Here, I can’t place less emphasis on the importance of consistently acquiring credible knowledge and skills no matter what it will cost you. It does not need to be on the job alone. Enrolment in a professional program can place you in the same class with participants from different industries or lecture delivery can be from experts who have gained decades of experience. So, you have a pool of knowledge to grow the niche you have created for yourself. In my case, I received about one hour of a lecture from seasoned academia. During the unofficial session, another faculty also intercepted the discussion. It was indeed a pool of experience.

What makes your idea novel is the demand to acquire or use the knowledge by others who want to adopt it to meet a new requirement not necessarily the ‘newness’. Your reward is the credit attributed to you.

dhepro

Don’t claim you know everything in what you are doing no matter the novelty. Knowledge does not start with you and it is not likely to end with you. The idea you are using presently come from different sources. Don’t hide what you have. What makes it novel is the demand to acquire or use the knowledge by others who want to adopt it to meet a new requirement. Your reward is the credit attributed to you. It can’t be forgotten in history like the popular law of gravity by Galileo.

Learn through experience, but also through mastery of what you do.

Learning. It is a continuous process that comes from formal and informal means. News documentary is an important source of information. The director cited a recent news update which I was not privy to. It is that serious! Explore your industry information from the relevant sources, maybe from development organizations like United Nations, and devour the necessary ingredients. I marveled some of the facts I got from him were not known to me. Sure, he was addressing another aspect of the central theme different from mine. I took an important point – he has not only learned through experience, but he also learned through mastery of what he does. He seems to be releasing the information effortlessly but I noted he has taken his time to gain facts from different sources. Little wonder, he emphasized the need for me to go for more facts in my study.

Listen yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That’s active listening -every time, not just when a superior is sharing knowledge with you but with anybody. I blamed myself when I interrupted him at certain points to make a few clarifications. He was not right completely, but I was not right to have interrupted his view. Listen attentively and note your questions, comments, and reservations to be raised after he’s. These later points are also means for learning. Seek for clarifications when necessary and let answers provided to your questions increase your knowledge base. You also share knowledge by providing a better explanation of what you’re doing that was not properly judged by your assessor, mentor, or superior.

Ask questions. You may feel embarrassed when your question is answered when you later realized you know the answer. Have you experienced this before? The memory of one of the experiences I had is still very fresh. I asked my Chemistry teacher: why is it that Hydrogen can be placed in groups one or seven? He gave a simple answer: it needs one electron to fill its outer shell. Come and see how I felt. The idea may lie fallow if you don’t ask the question. You would have remained on the same project for a long time without progress for that hidden idea. Another shortcoming is the likelihood of promoting a shallow idea when you could have promoted a novel one when the key of knowledge is not in your hand. No idea is irrelevant. If it is not relevant to what you are doing now or your area of specialty, it could be useful in other decision areas. Stay glued to it. Keep it safe and use it when relevant.

Keep in touch. Don’t wait until you need a favour. He may also need you in the future. Shouldn’t that be one of the reasons for networking? Inform him of what you are doing presently in your profession. When it is necessary, request input to your work that relates to what he is doing. For instance, if you are an academic, express that your wish they mentor you and collaborate on a specific project. Don’t be perturbed if there is no timely response. Remember they have their schedule which may not include communicating with you.

Appreciate the time spent with you. Courtesy demands that you reciprocate the kind gesture with a simple voiced thank you sound. Can I send a feedback text? Why not? It keeps you in his list of contacts. All he needs to do is to search for a keyword in his messaging app if he needs to get in touch another time if he got to save your contact.

Be sure the communication line is opened every time. Be sure to check your email, LinkedIn account, and other networking apps for timely responses to messages to keep communications going.

It should keep getting better with you as you grow along this path. Be ready to adjust to new demands or requirements for networking for improved results.

dhepro

Don’t ignore being of help to an amateur. Remember you were at the same level before if you are not currently a starter. Ideas can come from both the mentee and the mentor. The list is inexhaustible. It should keep getting better with you as you grow along this path. Be ready to adjust to new demands or requirements for networking for improved results. Remember that’s the essence of the post on this page. I will be waiting at the other end to receive your suggestions, comments, and clarification on this post.

Un-planned

The best is not the highest possible.

ThePro

When you never planned to be the best, you just settle for anything worthwhile and not necessarily the best. I have heard someone saying, he was motivated by the outcome of his first of ten levels journey. It was the best among about fifty starters – that was why he strived to remain at the top until the end of the programme.
While this is possible for a few persons, deliberate effort is needed to achieve sustainable success in any endeavour. The next paragraphs highlight some tips in your pursuit of life-longed best (in no particular order).


Create/invent your style of achieving a specific goal: Creating your way of doing things make you trust in your abilities to succeed in any venture. It is natural to you. Note that you will need to change this style as the situation demands – you are not in control of certain things or events like the economic variables being controlled by the forces of the market.


Find your location/environment: This is where things work best for you – where you get inspired on ideas. With this knowledge, you do not waste your time where things will not work for you.


Go at your own pace: As an undergraduate, I know a classmate who only get serious with his studies at the tail end of the semester and still made good results, whereas there is another who start very early because he needs repetitive reading to get a firm grasp of class notes/materials. They both did well. Others do the same thing the first person did but with lower performance. That law operates in anything.


Leverage on the strength of others: When we were learning to walk as toddlers, we try to lean on support – maybe our mother or an elderly person or things around the house. Later we can stand on our own and even walk. At some points, we are amateur, beginners – learning from others. Later, when we are masters ourselves, we would start teaching others.

Learn how to leverage on the strength of others by taking Baby Steps


Help others: This may be a great task. If you call it a risk, it is worth taking. Its benefits include prevention of forgetfulness, means of networking with people, an enterprise with pecuniary benefits, and means of meeting your needs – exchange of skill for another person’s skill.


Avoid being a distractor master: Life comes with activities that divert our attention to something else. You must always be conscious of them and avoid/divert them. There are positive ones – that add value to you, but at the same time eat up the time for what you are supposed to be doing at a point in time. There must be deliberate efforts to level up the gap created by them.


Dare to exceed the best: The best is not the highest possible. Plan to exceed your planned success so that even if that is not possible, it will be possible to achieve your planned best.


Conclusively, adjust to what your present situation brings across your way. As you travel along, things will be clearer and you can adjust accordingly. Seek advice when necessary and include the G-factor in your success equation.

Dare to exceed the best! Prepare a delicious life.

Voyage and Compass: Tips and tricks to manage your progress

Lessons from the dynamics of a group of young professionals on a journey to their country's border communities.

The journey started in the early hours of a Thursday. Two people started the trip. Another joined, while the last person was already waiting at a bus stop. The first was Ochei, an officer of the country’s immigration force. With him on the wheel, we believe men in uniform cannot delay the trip. Sitting by his side is Sam, the man for the journey. He doubled as a fun driver. He handles the camera to ensure every memory was captured. He was controlling the driving (as if he is a better driver). Blessing was the DJ, giving us the best music in her archive. I was almost like a tour guard. I was opposing google Maps’ direction because it appears unrealistic at some points. We were making out to the country border for a family event. 

 

Prior to the start of the voyage, I never knew that the team was a complete one. I can only say, I was the odd one, the reason being that, I have always exhibited quiet mien in a larger association we all belong. They were the best suit for me. I had no dull moments. We gist, laugh, sing and excite ourselves as we navigate to our destination.

 

It was one of my best trips ever if not the best of all. Every moment was exciting. Aside from this experience, we all worked together to make the journey successful. But we also depended on entities that were not part of the journey namely other road users, indigenous community members in communities we encountered, Google Corporation, and people in our final destination among others. Needless to say, is the fact that the vehicle we used was also an important resource. The lesson from the dynamics of the group is what I am sharing here.

 

Some of the people we met gladly offer assistance while others don’t demonstrate enough sympathy, at least on my measuring scale. Remember they aren’t prepared to give the assistance we got from them. Not to think of offering such at no cost but at their inconveniences to strangers.

 

If I perceived some others offer guides that were not what we needed (or permit me to say, the wrong information that probably misguided us) and may be prolonged our journey, it isn’t their fault because they couldn’t give us what they don’t have. All the same, we still got to our destination. We can’t but appreciate them cheerfully. 

 

Like this important journey, life generally presents us with different ‘journeys’ – academic, professional, family, business, actual travel, political, etc. What is common to all, is the destination in focus. Although we know what we wanted (our destination), we may not a clear picture of how to get there, most especially the routes, resources and other demands. We will need a number of resources even those you are not familiar with, envisage or factor into your life’s journey. They will need to offer guidance and set us on the right part. 

 

Focus on the essence of the journey and work towards the quality achievement of its goal. We cannot head towards another place and expect to find ourselves in our intended destination. In the same vein, you can’t achieve your results if you aren’t using the route that leads there. Focus on your goal. Do not get distracted. Ensure you have boarded the right vehicle if you’re not going in yours. Ask other commuters to be sure of the destination of the vehicle. I’m sure you know what this means.

 

Speed limit. We were not supposed to be too fast or slow. Our speed depended on our familiarity with the terrain and road network. We needed to reduce our speed when we got to terrain that do not look familiar because we need to find out the next route, bends, and landmarks. If we are too fast, we might miss the right road. In an attempt to redirect, more time would be spent. The journey to the future is like a marathon, if you run too fast, you may not have the energy in reserve to finish. You may end up settling for a shorter destination or return to your starting point. What a waste of resources.

 

The shortest distance is not always the shortest route, there can be a ‘traffic jam’ potholes, etc. I remember we were asked to use a route when returning back. As we enter the road, we noticed the road doesn’t look very good but we sacrifice comfort for shortness. We eventually found the road is not ‘motorable’ as we moved ahead. It wasn’t convenient. It was too late to make a U-turn. Make sure you get your fact right before choosing the best route to getting to your destination. It doesn’t mean the road will always be smooth but there is no crime if there is a better route based on metrics like comfort, ease of navigation, security, and other opportunities not necessarily the shortness.

 

Provide help to those who are not part of the journey. We needed to take delivery of an item for a friend in one of the cities on our way. Like people that offered some assistance on our journey, we must also be ready to help others. A business cannot succeed without the right environment provided by the host community. It must be involved in corporate social responsibility to reciprocate the enabling environment. Create time to advise young ones on their academics, career path, family life, and work-life balance as opportunities present themselves. ‘Sow what you reap’.

 

The condition of the vehicle determines the speed. The vehicle was not in perfect condition. This regulated our speed at some points. Your body keeps you in motion. If it stops working, your progress will be halted if not retarded.  Your all-around health is important for any life endeavour. Treat your body well. Prepare it before the journey, observe its condition as you progress and get necessary treatment when it is not fit for activities.

Read also: Taking Responsibility – Lifetime Opportunity

What is the duration of the journey? Are you sure you aren’t missing your way? Knowing the estimated duration of the journey will prevent unnecessary expectations and anticipation. It will also help to track your progress. Determine the likely time it might take you to master that skill and what to expect as indicators of progress at different time intervals. Such knowledge will keep your expectations within the frame of your schedule. 

As you make efforts to be at your best, you will be operating on the path to staying proactive, relevant and organised. Do share your experience in the comment section below. 

 

Taking Responsibility – Lifetime Opportunity

Those things that hurt, instruct.

Benjamin Franklin

We are often confronted with making certain decisions. Some we ignore, others we don’t care about, most especially when we think we are not the only one involved and we feel the other people should be in the best position to act. 

The consequences of not acting as expected are grave in nature. Counting the cost of failing to take responsibility is the first thing to think about when faced with such decision. That's the only drive to act.

Procrastination is even better because you do it, but the other one means you’re not interested in doing it or maybe you only acted when it is evident things have gone wrong.

Who will bear the consequence? You of course, whether it is you or another person that should get that thing done. I will tell why later.

How should you handle the situation?

Responsibility is the most important ability that a person can possess. 

John C. Maxwell

Take responsibility for any unfavourable outcome whether you are directly or indirectly the cause. This is a lesson you must learn. That’s part of learning process for you. Take it joyfully. I say, joyfully. Put all your strength to prevent possible occurrence in the future. You have just learnt to do new thing. Even if you don’t have what it takes to make amendment, you can add that to the list of skills you must acquire so as to be able to take additional responsibilities in the future. 

Your boss need not know whether you can do it or not. Allow him to assigned you to the task. He will be surprised you can give as much as that to the organization. It has gone on record that sometimes ago, Mr Nice did this. Gbam! You have the recommendation of your superior during the next promotion.

So you’re now afraid, right? what if I can’t do it? Find out how to do it. Perhaps, a colleague in your organization can do it, or maybe, you will need to consult another friend in another organization. What I’m saying is that, you must be ready. Keep improving your skill sets.

Don’t wait to be told to do it. Let it be that, they will ask you not to do it. But you have shown you’re not irresponsible. You feel you were sidelined in that wise. No, not at all! You have only shown to all that, you are available anytime. That’s what you gain – availability. Don’t be afraid to be available for a task because it will make you available for unexpected reward. That’s time, everyone will also be available to celebrate your accomplishment. Those that would have raised eyebrows would have seen enough evidence not too.

How do you gain courage to take responsibility? 

It’s by taking the responsibility. How do you take responsibility? Plan ahead. How do you plan? Get additional skill relevant to your organization. How do you do that? Enrol for online classes, gain from your friend within or outside the organization, among others. Make dynamism your goal. Constantly emerge. 

I have heard this said severally that, pests develop resistance to chemicals that are meant to destroy or prevent their invasion over time. Have you wondered how that happens? They get more familiar with it. They observe or perceive their environment. This must be the chemical that kill my friend. Quickly, it find an exist route, if possible give a signal to another friend approaching the territory. Danger ahead ! The cycle continues. Even the dying one can give signal to the one alive. 

If you will not become irrelevant soon, you must observe you environment to know why some seniors or surbornates are no longer relevant and sent out of the organization. 

Similarly, get to know why clients are no longer patronising your product or service. Do your findings in a little way. That’s a responsibility you must assume to win the game for your organization. If you must leave, you have something your new organisation will need to lead the market. They will be willing to pay, because its an experience they don’t have. 

Think of missing those benefits. 

You will blame yourself for the wasted years you’re not in the learning zone. That moment you become your own judge. It will be more painful because you have untapped potentials, and now, it almost time to left the labour market. Remember, organisations now prefer vibrant candidates to the outdated, unlearned and dry fish because it is unbendable.

So, next time you want to be show ‘I don’t care’ attitude, remember how much it will cost you – a lifetime opportunity. 

Be ready to give something always whether you feel it is adequate or not. 

Remember to share with those not on this platform while comments are also welcomed.