What are Your Networking Goals for 2008?

It is the time of the year when we think about the goals that we want to accomplish in the following year. For some of us, we want to exercise more regularly, eat healthier, or quit smoking.  Whatever your goal is, we have a sense of motivation with each coming new year. Sadly, many people have a hard time commiting to their personal goals.  With business goals, there seems to be more of a drive for people. Probably because we spend most of our time working and we want to continually grow and take our businesses to the next level.

With that said, you need to make sure that you think about your networking goals for 2008.  These goals are just as important, if not more important, than some of your other professional goals. Relationships generally drive many of our other professional goals.

Ask yourself the following questions to guide and focus you on your networking goals.  While you don't have to commit to all of these, you need to make sure that you take these questions serious. Pick the ones that are the most reasonable and achievable for you.

1. How much do I want to grow my business?

2. How many new events do I want to attend each month?

3. What types of people do I need to meet to help me achieve my professioanl goals?

4. Which organizations do I want to take an active leadership role with?

5. What new techniques do I want to try for keeping in touch with people?

6. How many seminars do I want to host or speak at?

7. How many people do I want to have on my email distribution list?

8. What image do I want to portray?

9. What subject matter expertise do I want to brand myself around?

10. Do I want to change jobs?

11. Do I want to start my own business?

12. Do I want to start a blog?

13. Do I want to become a published author?

14. Do I need to find new service providers?

15. Do I want to start using social networking sites?

The above list is just a start for you and to get you to think about what you want to accomplish in 2008. I suggest that you write your goals down as well as the steps that you need to take to achieve these goals. This is important so you can stay focused and measure your success. You can call this your "personal business plan."

What are some of your networking goals for 2008? 

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Comments

[Harrison]

I think I have to ask myself why I want networking with people? I can't really take any serious actions on networking. I think the main reasons are I'm a introversive person and I don't find any good persuasive reasons to do so....

[Jason Jacobsohn]

Introverts are usually the best networkers because you listen and are good at building relationships. You need to give yourself the opportunity to meet people so you may want to start with a structured networking event such as SpeedNetworking. With this type of event, you are automatically matched with people so you will are guaranteed to meet people.

The best time to network is when you don't have a good reason to meet people. Ideally, you want to have a network that you can leverage when needed such as finding a new job, finding a new client, etc.

[Kian Ann]

I want to catch up with all my old friends! I have a huge list of primary and secondary school classmates and a pile of name cards which are collecting dust, and I really want to give every one of them a call!

[Jason Jacobsohn]

Thanks for sharing Kian. You have some big initiatives. Rather thank tackle them all at once, you may want to stage your activities. Or do a little of each at a time.

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