By Avery Blank
Do you ever find yourself hesitating to reach out to someone you think will either ignore you or question why you are contacting them? If you do, chances are your tentativeness is causing you to miss out on an opportunity to connect and network. Knowing that I have missed out on an opportunity makes me nauseous. So how do I make sure I do not get that sick-in-the-stomach feeling and have no regrets? I fearlessly network.
Who is a fearless networker?
A fearless networker is someone who reaches out to a person, regardless of role or title, with whom she wants to develop a relationship. A fearless networker does not worry or take it personally if she gets an unenthusiastic response or no response at all. She does not limit her actions based on her assumption of another person’s reaction. Meaning, a fearless networker is not afraid to hear the word “no.”
Plenty of people have not shown an interest to network, but I have received lots of enthusiastic responses. Most people love to talk about themselves and are flattered that I have asked them for advice. The key is having a compelling reason that makes the one you approach interested in speaking with you.
What can you accomplish by being a fearless networker?
Being a fearless networker will allow you to develop relationships with amazing people, show your value to decision-makers, and ultimately better position yourself for exciting opportunities. You can:
1. Develop relationships with key decision-makers and influencers
Do not let a title or role scare you from reaching out to that person. You must believe that you are worth other people’s time and have the confidence to reach out to ask for help or advice. Through fearless networking, I have spoken with senior-level executives, state and national politicians, a former White House chief of staff, and many others!
2. Become a valuable resource
You may be reaching out to someone who is looking for information that you have. Use this to your advantage and help that person through information-sharing. I recently reached out to someone who I wanted to develop a professional relationship with, and she asked if I would be willing to speak with her friend who was looking for opportunities in the area that I work. So I gladly reached out to her friend to see how I could be of help.
3. Open the doors to unimaginable career opportunities
If you network with key people and have the opportunity to show your value to them, you will be much closer to achieving your career goals. Fearless networking helped me receive a fellowship and work in the government affairs department of a top 100 international law firm.
You can accomplish so much if you are fearless. You have nothing to lose!
This post can originally appeared on Levo League.
Are you a fearless networker? If so, what have you accomplished by being a fearless networker? If not, what do you think is preventing you from being a fearless networker?
Avery uses her training as an attorney to fearlessly advocate for women professionals, particularly in male-dominated arenas. Her interest in women in leadership began in high school and has become her passion. She thrives on interacting with and empowering others. Avery loves to write, travel, run, stay current with the news, and challenge herself with word games. She received her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law and her B.A. in English & Spanish from Colgate University.
You can follow her on linkedin and at Levo League !
