Networking is a leadership skill; and to be a successful leader, you need to continually hone your skills. Stand up and be a leader by accepting a position on the board of your professional or community organization. What ones do you enjoy and think where you can make a difference and an impact? I have recently started to volunteer at the Salvation Army through my Rotary club. You realize you have skills and abilities that you may never have thought possible and it will stretch you both physically and mentally. Raise your hand and volunteer to work on important projects and organize events, mentor new members or employees, teach a subject you know well at an organizational workshop or seminar. Arrange public speaking engagements for yourself to present your knowledge of a particular subject and show that you are a leader in your field. If you don't enjoy public speaking, try writing and publishing articles in professional or organizational publications to show you are a leader. Create your own website as a marketing tool and as a way to share your knowledge and expertise with others. Start publishing on Social Media and become known as a Thought Leader. The list goes on and on– as you do any of these activities, you are continually building your network.
Andrea Nierenberg President of Nierenberg Consulting Group