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Networking: by Margaret L. Arnold "The more visible you are, the wider your network contacts and the greater your chances for career opportunities." A staggering eight out of every ten professionals advance their career by understanding and implementing the art known as networking. Whether you're searching for a job, seeking to build community support, or simply widening your social contacts, the importance and value of networking is immeasurable. Attending a state conference provides an excellent opportunity for networking with others in the recreation and park profession. What better way to make many contacts from throughout the state in such a short period of time? Networking is best described as a process for developing and using your contacts for information, advice, and moral support as you pursue your career in the field of recreation and parks. However, this process requires certain skills and techniques to be most effective. The important thing to remember is that networking is an exchange process. Think of networking like a resource bank: one should not continue to withdraw unless deposits have been made along the way.
Those professionals who hold job positions similar to your own. For example, if you are in a middle management position, it is important to network with middle managers from outside the field of recreation and parks as well. For example, as middle manager for a leisure agency, network with other middle managers from hospitals or banks. The sharing of ideas, strategies and long-term goals can be mutually beneficial in this instance, regardless of professional interest or line of work. Those with job positions to which you would like to aspire eventually. Perhaps you aspire to the position of an executive director or maybe someday you would like to teach at a university or college. Network with professionals already in this position to increase your knowledge and to hear personal anecdotes. If it's the executive director's position you would like to aspire to someday, ask him or her if you could spend a day following along in his/her footsteps to gain first hand knowledge of a typical day in this position. If you aspire to teach in higher education, offer to become a guest speaker for a class or apply to become an adjunct faculty member. Potential clients or consumers. The best way to assess consumer needs and wants is by asking them personally. Take time to network with commissioners, board members and users. At state conferences some attendees are non-professionals in the field of parks and recreation. These individuals are considered to be "friends of and may provide very realistic perspectives of various issues and topics you otherwise may not have even
FIGURE 1
Evaluating Your Current Network Use the following exercise to analyze your current network. This exercise will demonstrate to you the areas of strengths and weaknesses of your present networkand may provide guidance for networking goals at your next conference. Complete Row A by identifying people in your current network. Once all row As have been identified, next indicate on Row B those individuals you would like (or need) to have in your network. If names are not known, indicate the positions or titles these people may hold.
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On Row A, identify three people who have helped you advance in your career.
On Row A, identify three people in the recreation and park profession whom you respect and value as professional contacts and would recommend to others.
On Row A, identify three people in related fields who help you get your job done.
On Row A, identify three people who guide your career, provide opportunity and access and teach you the ropes.
On Row A, identify three people who cause you to look at your own direction and force you to face some important questions about your own life.
On Row A, identify three people who advise you of opportunities and encourage your visibility.
considered. People whose perspectives totally differ from your own. Creating opportunities to network with people whose perspectives differ from yours certainly can help you grow personally and professionally. Understanding differing viewpoints may help strengthen (or weaken) your own beliefs. Stimulate your intellectual thinking by challenging yourself in this capacity. With these suggestions in mind, begin to think about your personal current network by completing the worksheet shown in Figure 1. This exercise will not only help you to evaluate who is currently in your network (row A), but force you to think about who you need to target as potential networks (row B). If you are unable to specifically identify the names of potential contacts in row B, indicate the positions or titles of the people you would like to have in your network, for example, a Graduate Coordinator from a master's program of interest to you or the President of the state park and recreation association. This exercise will help you to identify potential contacts desired for your network as you prepare to attend the state conference. Conference Networking Now that you have a better idea of who should be potential network targets, begin to think about how you actually might go about the process of targeting these contacts. Keep in mind the following general rules of networking as you begin the process at the conference. Make a good first impression. First impressions are lasting impressions. Feel uneasy about entering a room and not knowing anyone? (You're certainly not alone!) Take a deep breath and begin to mingle. Introduce yourself with a firm handshake and establish eye contact with the person. Next, have in mind some icebreaker questions like, "So, is this your first IPRA Conference?" "Is your name spelled with a 'K' or a 'C'?" This will help you to remember the name. Body language and tone of voice also
are important to remember when making a good first impression. Use good posture and sound confident as you speak and listen. Be sensitive to changing economic times. Remember theses are difficult economic times and that not all people are fortunate to have jobs. Instead of asking someone "So Shane, what do you do for work?" and hearing a response, "I don't— I just got the pink slip yesterday," you may want to rephrase the question to "what type of work do you do?" or, "what is your area of interest, Shane?" This may help you to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation. Be useful and not boring. The key to networking is the exchange process. In other words, be useful to others as others are useful to you. Remember to share ideas, offer advice when asked, and provide potential contacts for others. Keep in mind that professionals pay good money to attend conferences and the time spent networking should be worth it. Be attentive (listen). Listen carefully to the conversation. If you are concerned about what you should say following the next uncomfortable silence, you're probably not listening! Impress your new contact with your listening skills by keeping eye contact, rephrasing comments for clarity and occasional head nods. If the situation permits, lean slightly into the conversation (but be careful not to invade the other person's space) to demonstrate your attentiveness. Don't be afraid to ask questions. This not only demonstrates your interest, but it also can help you to make other connections and/or find areas of future mutual benefits for both parties involved. Never assume. We all know what happens when people a-s-s-u-m-e. This may range from simply assuming your contact's secretary is a she ("I'll call her first thing Monday to set up an appointment with you") to assuming someone does not want to spend time talking with you for whatever reason. Take the risk of introducing yourself to people who you do not know. Keep in mind that chances are very good you have something in common to discuss by virtue of being at that same conference with similar interests and outlooks. Post Conference Network Management Once you have successfully accomplished your initial goal of networking, that is, making contact with potential networks, the next step in the process is the challenge of how you continue to build and maintain these contacts. This requires both time and effort. The following offers suggestions for conquering this challenge. Keep a professional address book or business cardholder. Periodically update but don't throw out the names and addresses you no longer consider to be necessary. You never know when you or someone else may need them. Not only should you update your professional address book, but periodically reassess your needs. Priority, values and contacts may change from time to time. For example, the network you had for your first entry level position may have since changed. Follow-up on contacts and increase contacts monthly. Networks do not come ready made; they require work. Consciously make an effort to establish and maintain networks by calling contacts on the phone periodically, sending cards on special occasions, meeting for lunch, or simply drop a line to say "hello." Keep yourself fresh in people's mind! Compare notes and share resources. The most successful networking rests on the premise of sharing. The days of "what's in it for me?" are over. Therefore, sharing information with peers and colleagues is paramount for effective networking. Upon returning home from a conference, hold a meeting with your staff and share your recently acquired resources. Being a resource for others adds dimension to your own life. Belong to professional organizations. IPRA (Illinois Park and Recreation Association) has several special interest sections which enable park and recreation professionals to network. These special interest groups provide workshops, seminars and information exchange among professionals who share common work settings, problems and interests. Whether it be the Recreation Section, Therapeutic Section, Administration and Finance Section, Parks and Natural Resource Management Section, Special Facilities Section or the Student Section, these branches provide unlimited services and resources. In addition to the state association, NRPA (National Recreation and Park Association) provides numerous opportunities to meet fellow park and recreation professionals. NRPA provides ten various branches and sections to serve special areas of interest which provide numerous resources and services. These include: Armed Forces Recreation Society (AFRS), Citizen and/or Board Members (CBM), Commercial Recreation and Tourism Section (CRTS), National Aquatic Section (NAS), Leisure and Aging Section (LAS), American Park and Recreation Society (APRS), National Society of Park Resources (MSPR), National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS), Friends of NRPA, and Society of Park and Recreation Educators (SPRE). Lastly, it is also important to belong to organizations which may share similar goals and interests outside the field of recreation and parks. Stay current with networking tips. Keep informed and aware of the latest recommended networking techniques. Being politically correct is just one example of the latest techniques being suggested. Another identifiable current tip is adapting networking strategies to a struggling economy by carefully phrasing questions. (See general rules of networking #2). Lastly, and certainly most importantly, remember to say "thank-you." Always thank the people who provided you with leads (even if they do not pan out), information, advice or moral support. Call or write to express your gratitude, and if applicable, let them know the outcome of their suggestions. Probably the most valuable aspect to networking is that nobody else can do it for you. If you are looking for professional growth, a change in career, certain advice or whatever, networking helps you to help yourself. Eight out of every ten professionals help themselves by advancing their career opportunities as a result of who they know. It's an adventure! You never know where it will lead. So take the risk, enjoy the adventure and make the next conference work for you by networking. About the Author
Margaret L. Arnold is a Lecturer and Internship Coordinator in the Recreation and Park Administration Program at
Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. References may be
obtained by submitting a request to the author.
The author wishes to acknowledge and thank Dr. Norma
Stumbofor serving as manuscript reviewer.
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