Becoming VISIBLE to Your Network

I explained before that you need to be known, liked, and trusted as a networker before you can expect to get referrals. That takes some interpersonal communications skills, some effort, and some commitment. The good news is if you are reading this, you have already accomplished at least some of that.

There are still missing ingredients to getting the referrals you want. The first of these is becoming remembered when the opportunity to refer you presents itself - you need to be top-of-mind among your network. You become top of mind in at least two ways: by reminding your network, and by increasing your visibility within your network.

You get to remind your network each time you meet for your 1-2-1s, and each time you do your networking presentation. You increase your visibility when you give testimonials, when you give referrals, when you share your networking successes and knowledge, and when you take on leadership roles within your network. The common thread here is that your visibility grows when your network sees you consistently working for the benefit of others.

One reason I share these networking notes is that they give me greater visibility, but for me that is really secondary to the opportunity to focus on learning more about networking, hone my skills, and create something of value.

I’ll deal with the second missing ingredient in my next note, but I want you to consider this:

Your visibility is relative to other individuals in your network, not to the network itself.

To some networkers, you will just be barely visible, to others you will be highly visible. You will get the most benefit from your network when you are highly visible to your contact sphere and - if you are in one - to your power team (this is a topic I have not yet covered).  

KLT Is Not Enough

(There is more to getting referred than just being known, liked, and trusted

All things being equal, people prefer to do business with those they know, like, and trust. We all know this, but there is one other thing that needs to happen for people to make referrals to you: you need to be remembered when the opportunity to refer you presents itself.

The process of becoming the person who gets remembered is a topic for another note, and it is closely related to the process of becoming known, liked, and trusted, but it is not identical. And in any case, KLT must precede being remembered. We resist sharing our networks with people we do not KLT. Therefore, our skill at achieving KLT status will greatly improve our networking. 

To understand why this is required first, simply look at the opposite: no one would willingly refer business to someone they did not know, did not like, and did not trust, no matter how visible, credible, well-marketed, and remember-able others believed them to be.

So, how do you become the kind of networker who has achieved KLT status? It is, literally, the same way you become friends, and yes, I’ve explained this before: in your initial 1-2-1 conversations, hunt for areas of common interest and dwell on them. If you start there, and return there, you will become someone who is known and liked.

Trust is different. Trust requires confidence in your reliability, and therefore it requires proof. It can start small - just commit to a scheduled 1-2-1 and be there, on time, and ready. It will grow as you share stories about how you’ve helped others, and as others share stories about you. It will grow as you are asked for information and deliver it. 

At some point, through these interactions, you will shift from being someone who is just another networker, to being a friend. And then you can become the friend who is top-of-mind when someone needs what you offer.   

If meeting indoors makes you nervous, try “net-walking!”

Almost Hired? That Window of Opportunity is More Special Than You Think

Dear Sue,

I've made it through several rounds for a Director of Programming role with Favorite Organization in Cleveland. This is the job that I've wanted and pursued for 3 months now. I should hear next week whether I've made it to the next step, whether I'm still in this. I certainly hope so.

I also am in the running for a senior VP position in a not-for profit located in Houston. It would be a remote position. And I will hear about potential next steps, if any, next week as well. -        Stan

Dear Stan,

Oh, my goodness! That’s a lot. Wonderful news! Please keep me posted!         Sue

Dear Sue,

Thank you. I will. I'm really happy about my decision to go back to a strategic leadership role in a social justice organization. I just need to find a spot where I can work. [Emphasis added] -        Stan

How Windows of Opportunity Open

Stan’s emails tells us almost everything we need to know about successful job seeking and finding. As you read, when he got clear, he got excited. We’re often taught that clarity is the right thought. But it’s a feeling - and it’s magnetic. Stan is feeling happy and committed. He’s out there networking like crazy so he could be found easily. He became “the needle” his preferred type of employers’ “magnets” are seeking. He was drawn into the selection processes in organizations where he can flourish. When the requests to interview came, he could maintain his integrity and enter the discussions whole-heartedly. And, when one became available, more than one became available.

There are three points I’d like you to consider.

#1, When you know what you really desire and communicate it clearly and with enthusiasm, your “needle,” is attracted to magnets. People not only find you, they pull you in – they want to get to know you better.

#2, We are attractable when our light shines through. We even call it magnetism! If we have inner work to do clarity is elusive, energy is dormant or tied up in other things, and we can’t get traction. Our light doesn’t shine.

#3, A window of opportunity opens when you have accomplished #1 and #2 and the community needs you.  (A community is always grounded on land. For some people “the community” is national or global, so don’t get hung up on the wording. It’s the best I can figure to say right now.)

Timing of Opportunities

When these three things come together there will be openings.  One of the interesting things is that “the community needs you” is most important for the timing of the openings. This is easy to see in the slowdown in hiring at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The community didn’t need a lot of new products or services. It also explains why there was a surge in hiring for a few roles, like drivers and nursing.

When we get excited about an opportunity and we get quite far in the hiring process, it’s very tempting to think we’ve got it; that it’s ours, it’s got our name on it, or that we should work harder to give ourselves the best chance. Yet, what I’ve watched over and over is that the more tightly a candidate holds on to a specific opening, the more likely it is that the deal will go away.

The analogy for this experience is transformative in a negative way. Sometimes a beautiful job seems to be truly in our hands. We hold it preciously, like a golden egg.  But if we grasp the egg too tightly - work harder to deserve it - it turns to sand.  Paradoxically, the tighter we grip sand, the faster it runs through our fingers. 

Inner Work is Essential

You’ll notice that Stan did his inner work. He took care of whatever was in the way of him recognizing his heart’s desire and communicating it. His new clarity narrowed his focus to the type of work he loves to do. He became fearless, willing to say no to things that aren’t right for him - even though he

• needs a job,

• feels uncertain about where he will land, and

• worries sometimes about how long it’s going to take to finally get an offer.

But his clarity and energy are compelling to the organizations which are put together and organized to serve the need he satisfies in the community.

If we keep driving toward only one job, we miss what the universe is presenting to us as the next step. This driving too hard delays our progress in the job search because our energy is going into warding off ideas and yearnings so we can stay focused on our singular goal – a job that is not ours to give ourselves.

It’s like driving

so fast we don’t see the street signs, notice a shortcut, or the sign for free ice cream where we run into an old friend who makes our day.

What we’re missing when we shield ourselves from ideas and yearning is strengthening and clarifying our inner game. Some people disagree that they need to do any inner work. They think I’m nuts and out of bounds. As you’ve heard me brag countless times, I’ve worked with over 4,000 candidates. That’s a lot of examples and over time patterns became easy to see. This is one you can bank on.

Inner work can be learning to rely on one’s instincts better; working through resentments and freeing up energy; finding a lost family member; finishing grieving the last job or something else; clarifying needs and wants and saying no to work that is inappropriate based on your preferences, saving energy. You needed to clean the basement or plant a rose garden and unemployment gave you time. Your mother was sick and you wanted to care for her. Or, you were just tired and needed to rest.  All of these are what I mean by inner work.

Step Up!

Job offers elude us for many reasons and a candidate has no control over them.  But a candidate can decide what his or her own actions will be. When you are getting “interest signals” you know you and the community are ready and a window is opening up for you to be in a place to contribute heartily. The signs of encouragement - like getting far along in selection processes – mean you will have more success hearing about opportunities out in the community than you did before.  

Re-energize your commitment to networking! Now is not the time to develop tunnel vision, to say no to more opportunities coming your way. It’s time to reach out to all your favorite people, telling them

• you’re ready,

• what you really want,

• what kind of organizations you want it with,

• how excited you are that openings are appearing.

• And ask for referrals to great leaders. Show your enthusiasm! It’s magnetic.

See if you can connect with enough people to land three offers. Then you will know your value, have more ideas when it’s time to negotiate, and know why you are choosing to accept this offer to join this organization.

You Have the Time You Need

Based on what I’ve seen, the universe gives us time. In over 25 years, I’ve never had a client’s worst fear come true - losing their home. The new role comes in time. We need time to collect the thinking that is missing in daily life. We can work with the knowledge that we are in a principled process and remember that fear is a deterrent to progress. Keeping track of what stage we are in and that we’re making progress means we are doing the right activities at the right time. If we get stuck or confused, coaching or counseling, or a good, friendly ear may be needed.  

Stay in the Game!

Don’t quit right before your miracle! When you are in the running for a really good job, get out there! Ask around for more connections, more people to help, more insight into what needs doing. Reinforce your clarity, your commitment to solving your favorite problems with others of like mind. Receive encouragement! You’re expanding. A terrific new role will come to you.  Just wait till you see all that is opening up for you!

Evolving As An Artist - Guest Blogger Christine Kaminski

Christine Kaminski   May 13, 2020  

Our panelists from left to right: Lisa Gruber-Gebby, Sue Nelson and Karen Jewell-Kett.

April’s CDPUG virtual meeting brought together an introspective panel discussing the topic Evolving as an Artist. We were especially lucky to begin with a live performance of David Bowie’s song Changes by Mikey Silas of Apostle Jones. Each panelist has gone through different types of changes. Lisa Gruber-Gebby, of Orange Wall Creative, a print graphic designer, recognized the new directions design was taking and adopted the web early. Karen Jewell-Kett, of FirstHand Studio, retired after a 35 year graphic design career and wanted to start her own studio. Initially she assumed she’d work as a freelance graphic designer, but after careful reflection, decided she was over design work. She decided to explore her own creative goals and needs with painting and found a different way of being an artist. Sue Nelson had obtained her undergraduate degree at 40, has worked in outplacement, career advising and HR consulting. Now as an entrepreneur Sue helps mid-life professionals with their own evolutions through the Job Search Center. Lisa Griffis of Rescue Your Photos was unable to attend due to a family emergency. 

Thank you all ladies for sharing your journeys and advice!
A big thanks also to Spike Radway for moderating the discussion, Henry Lee for moderating the chat area, Mikey Silas for his musical introduction and Sarah Coggins for video editing the panel discussion.

Since our virtual meetings can be recorded, I won’t be recapping, but I encourage you to be open to new possibilities, especially in these current times where our world is going through many sudden shifts – in how we work, interact and live our daily lives.

Please click on the link below to view the video. We have also compiled any links our speakers mentioned below:

Evolving as an Artist Video 

Karen Jewell-Kett
PDF with many awesome resources

Sue Nelson 
Book – Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William Bridges

Mikey Silas and Apostle Jones

I’ll continue on with some musing. I was curious how many members got to wondering about how their career or art might be ready to evolve. Or maybe it’s something you’ve been pondering for a while now. 

As artists, by our very nature we are always evolving and learning. We are adaptable and innovative thinkers. We’re not afraid to embrace new information or seek new ways to accomplish things.

Members at virtual meeting.

There might be small changes to make, such as challenging yourself to do something out of your comfort zone – adding more orange to your work, working large or oversized illustrations instead of your usual size, or even trying some new typefaces. Perhaps you’re wanting to make some larger changes – you tend to paint still lifes and have always wanted to try adding a few figures. Maybe you’re a photographer and you want to work with more video. It could even be a major evolution. If you’ve been doing photography or graphic design for an employer, maybe you’ve been thinking of venturing out into your own business. Or maybe you’ve done packaging design and want to move to web design.

Have you had any thoughts or ideas on your own artistic evolution you’d like to share?

CDPUG Blog, Meeting Reviews, Monthly Programming

About Christine Kaminski

A graphic designer & illustrator helping people find creative solutions to their communications needs. Experienced in branding and promotions using print and digital media.