Networking Etiquette in Project Management

💡 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐀 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Life is full of people sharing varying ideas and opinions. We run into this both throughout our personal and professional lives. In project management, bringing together diverse teams often spurs different opinions and sometimes disagreements. Want to make a big difference in the relationships you build? 🌟 Try to acknowledge what others say, especially in disagreement. It’s easier to get along when people agree with us. Agreement typically makes us feel good. But going beyond that, take it step further by saying things like: 🔹 “Building off of what [insert name] said…” 🔹 “That’s a great point [insert name]!” 🔹 “As [insert name] said a few minutes ago…” This point of emphasis builds off of 2 principles that bring people together. People like the sound of their name and hearing that they are right (or have a great point).   It’s more difficult when people disagree with us and bring up a contrary point of view. Acknowledging others is especially important in disagreement. You don’t have to agree with what someone may say, but you can respond with kindness. For example: 🔹 “Thank you [insert name] for bringing that up.” 🔹 “I appreciate you [insert name] for sharing that.” Showing appreciation and gratitude for different points of view will encourage healthy collaboration and relationships. Oftentimes, people just want to be heard.   Showing consideration, empathy, and understanding for varying opinions (even if you disagree) will go a long way to creating bridges among people. 🌉 👉 The next time you have people who share ideas (especially those that you disagree with), try acknowledging them. I guarantee that you’ll like the results that follow in conversations, as well as where your personal and professional relationships go. 🤔 What do you think of this idea? Do you typically acknowledge others in this way? What other tips do you have in helping to foster healthy dialogue, even in disagreement? _________________ 🔔 Ring the bell to follow me on LinkedIn for topics on #ProjectManagement, #ProgramManagement, #PMO, #BusinessTransformation, #CareerTips, and #Leadership. #AcknowledgingOthers #PowerSkill #ProjectLeadership #ProjectSuccess #HealthyRelationships

Build a network you can count on! H7 Network has taught me the value of platform. We always talk about "Having an audience, not being in the audience". Here are some tips mindset we frame for our networking community. Connect: Building a genuine connection with the person you're meeting. This could involve a warm greeting, a brief mention of common interests or acquaintances, or simply showing interest in their background. Be approachable and open-minded. Approach the meeting with a mindset of learning from the other person and valuing their perspective. Serve: Before diving into your own needs or goals, ask questions and actively listen to understand the other person's needs and goals. Offer help or support without expecting immediate reciprocity. Generosity and willingness to assist others can foster positive relationships in networking. Ask: After establishing a connection and demonstrating your willingness to be of service, you can then ask for what you need or desire. Be clear and concise in your request. Tailor your request to align with the relationship you've built. If you've already offered help or support, it's more likely the other person will reciprocate. Follow Up: After the meeting, follow up with a thank-you note or message to express your appreciation for their time and the insights gained. This reinforces the positive impression you've made. If you've offered assistance, follow through on your promises promptly. This demonstrates reliability and trustworthiness. Be Genuine: Authenticity is key. Be yourself and don't pretend to be someone you're not. Authenticity builds trust and makes networking interactions more meaningful. Avoid appearing transactional. Networking is about building relationships, not just about what you can get from others. Respect Time: Be mindful of the other person's time during the meeting. Keep the conversation on track and avoid monopolizing the discussion. If you have a specific time limit for the meeting, make that clear from the outset. Prepare Elevator Pitch: Have a concise and engaging elevator pitch ready that introduces yourself and your interests. This can help in the initial phase of the conversation. Listen Actively: Pay close attention to what the other person is saying. This not only shows respect but also allows you to identify opportunities where you can be of service or where your needs align. Stay Professional: Maintain a professional demeanor throughout the meeting. This includes dressing appropriately, using proper language, and being courteous. Reflect and Learn: After the networking meeting, take some time to reflect on what went well and what could have been improved. Continuously learn from your experiences to refine your networking skills. Remember, networking is a long-term endeavor, and building genuine relationships takes time and effort. "Connect, Serve, Ask" is a framework that can help you approach networking meetings with a balanced and effective strategy.

I loved what Ian shared in this CNA commentary. Some really pertinent and accurate observations. However, there was one recommended suggestion that I personally struggle with: 'connect with users directly and ask them out for coffee.' ☕ 👩🏫 As someone who teaches final-year grad students (& post-grad students and working adults) about professional networking — covering situational awareness, conversation skills, and follow-up etiquette — I’ve shifted my approach somewhat in the last 18 years. A decade ago, I encouraged 'coffee meetings' as a way to connect. 💡 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐈 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐲? 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. My email inbox (both LinkedIn and work) fills weekly with kind coffee invites. If volume equaled consumption, I’d need five cups a day!!!! ❤️ 𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫: I deeply value helping others — it’s why I teach, mentor mothers, and run a social enterprise. But like many professionals juggling work, family, and commitments, scheduling 1:1 chats is often unrealistic. 📝 𝐀 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕. 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈. When reaching out, consider these alternatives: 1️⃣ 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: Explicitly say "I know you’re busy" or "Zero pressure to respond." 2️⃣ 𝐁𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜: Vague requests = higher mental load. State exactly what you want (e.g., "15 mins," "2-3 ideas on how to reach out to the sustainability industry"). 3️⃣ 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐭: "If this isn’t a good time, I completely understand!" 4️⃣ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞: Offer help, resources, or genuine appreciation 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 5️⃣ 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦: Suggest text/voice/email instead of live chat/ coffee meeting (𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦!!!) ⏳ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭: We’re asking for someone’s time and insight—𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫. How we frame it matters. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖?