Presentation on the value of creating a personal network, providing tips and hints specifically for the information professional. Created for SLA's First Five Task Force, January 2010. Cindy Hill, Hill Information Consulting Group

1. THE ACCIDENTAL
NETWORKER
Cindy Hill, Hill Information Consulting Group
January 2010

2. MY BACKGROUND
 Cindy Hill
 Solo librarian, info center manager, consultant,
entrepreneur, international speaker
 SLA Fellow and Past-President
 Shy person

3. WHY NETWORK
 Can you really work alone?
 Learning from others
 Sharing experiences
 The bigger perspective
Source: Flicker.com K!T's photostream

4. THE BIG PICTURE:
A SOCIAL NETWORK DIAGRAM
Christian 1st Degree
Christy
Cindy 2nd Degree
Rich
3rd Degree
Sun Alumni Group Mike

5. START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

6. “…create information that people want. Create
an online presence that people are eager to
consume. Establish a virtual front door that
people will happily link to…”
David Meerman Scott

7. “…And one that employers will find.”
David Meerman Scott, www.webinknow.com Nov 11, 2008

8. IDEA: AT WORK
 Walk around
 Join a team
 Never eat alone
 Attend meetings
 Share ideas
 Talk!
 Get out of your “space”
 Ask for a meeting with a department head

10. IDEA: WITHIN THE PROFESSION
 Meet people from other SLA units
 Attend other conferences, meetings
 Mentor others
 Offer to work on a project, team, task force
 Volunteer your time, talent, experiences
 Attend webinars – chat!

11. IDEA: AT THE CONFERENCE
 Strike up a conversation with someone new
 Attend receptions, parties, vendor events
 Have a calling card
 Talking in line
 Meet the speaker
 Follow-up

12. IDEA: AT HOME
 Read outside the professional literature
 Attend webinars – outside the profession
 Community exposure
 Free receptions, events in town
 volunteer

13. USE TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT
 Discussion lists
 LinkedIn
 FaceBook
 Twitter
 Blogs
 ???

14. CONNECTIONS
 Maintain a rolodex
Virtual or physical?
Information details
Source: Flikr.com TOKY Branding and Design

17. TOP 10 MISTAKES NETWORKING
 #10 - Failing to show gratitude
 #9 - Not using social media networks
 #8 – Not targeting specific people
 #7 – Being a pest
 #6 – Not having a personal pitch
Adapted from Bill Holland, “Top Ten Mistakes Networking” http://www.slideshare.net/talentproof/top-10-mistakes-networking

18. TOP 10 MISTAKES NETWORKING
 #5 – Not following up
 #4 – Being selfish (give and take)
 #3 – Not having a plan
 #2 – Limiting yourself to people you know
 #1 – Failing to network
Adapted from: Bill Holland, “Top Ten Mistakes Networking” http://www.slideshare.net/talentproof/top-10-mistakes-networking

19. WHAT WORKS
 #10 – Acknowledging & thanking people
 #9 - Starting with the tools you have
 #8 – Setting goals
 #7 – Controlling your requests
 #6 – Knowing why you want to connect

20. WHAT WORKS
 #5 – Following up
 #4 – Sharing and giving
 #3 – Planning
 #2 – Moving outside your comfort zone
 #1 – Making connections

21. WHAT TO DO
 Offer insights
 Share experiences and stories
 Give before asking
 Be authentic
 Be open to making new friends – virtually

22. START NOW
 Set goals: SMART ones
 Possibilities:
 Invite someone new to lunch, coffee break
 Create a calling card
 Write response to one blog posting
 Ask a question
 Send a thank you note

23. RESOURCES & CREDITS
 The Virtual Handshake by David Teten & Scott
Allen, www.thevirtualhandshake.com
 www.careerbuilder.com
Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success,
One Relationship at a Time, Keith Ferrazzi
SLA 23 Things: http://bit.ly/7KcBEb
SLA Leadership & Management Division; Solo
Librarians Division

24. THANK YOU
A special “shout out” to all the SLA Fellows who
responded to my request for tips on networking.
Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Peter Moon Buzzy Basch
Richard Hulsar David Stern
Judy Field Doris Helfer
Marydee Ojala Ann Caputo

25. “Pressure Makes Diamonds”
- Sun IT support guy

26. THANK YOU!
Cindy Hill
Cindyvhill(at)yahoo.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/cindyvhill
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyvhill
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cindyhill