Engage and Engage Some More!

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Define the word, Engage.

According to Google, Engage means

“participate or become involved in.”

But more importantly it means

“cause someone to become involved in (a conversation or discussion)”

How many connections do you have on LinkedIn? It doesn’t really matter unless you Engage with your connections. For two reasons:

1. MindShare - You must achieve MindShare. Your connections need to know who you are, what you do, and what value you have to offer to a prospective employer, client, or affiliate. Are you a Subject Matter Expert (SME)? Your LinkedIn profile should reflect your expertise, but when you Engage with others over coffee, on the phone, or through messaging and email, you will be on Top of Mind when opportunities present themselves.
2. Identify – When you Engage your connections, you learn more about who they are. One of the goals of Networking is to meet and Engage the people who will lead you to your next job, client or opportunity. When you Engage, you’ll identify the people who are connected to your target industry. These are the people who you should concentrate on. Also, identify those who respond in a timely manner. Those people practice Networking as a part of every day life and will be most valuable to you.

So, how do you Engage?

1. Meet your connections in person. Schedule a coffee date with someone you’ve just met. Ask how you can help them. Follow the 10 Golden Rulesof Networking. If you’re in an employment transition, you should be meeting with at least one person per day.
2. Turn on your LinkedIn Notifications. LinkedIn will notify you when your connections have birthdays, start new jobs, have job anniversaries, or update their profile. Don’t just like their update or use the canned message, “Congratulations on your work anniversary.” Make the note personal. Write something that will encourage them to respond. Start a conversation. Schedule a coffee date.
3. Follow Networking experts on LinkedIn. Read their articles. Ask questions. Ask for their opinion. Many experts offer advice for free. Take advantage of that generosity.
4. Find a Mentor or Coach. Most universities and colleges have mentor programs for students and alumni. Talk to the career center to see what your school offers.
5. Join an Alumni Association. Connect with those who have been through what you’ve been through. Treat your fellow alumni as allies not competitors. More on this in a future blog post.
6. Get out there and Network! The more people you meet, the more likely you are to find others who will lead you to your next opportunity. You’ll find those with who you need to Engage. Search EventBrite for professional Networking events. Join Toastmasters and visit other chapters. There are over 300 chapters in Southern California alone. In Southern California, you can also attend a Laguna Niguel Connectors mixer and the Coffee and Networking Meetup.

So, here’s the plan: Meet, Connect, Identify, Engage, and Engage some more! 

This blog post in #2 in a series on Networking and why it's important and valuable. More here.

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