basics of networking, The

Black Collegian, Oct 1999 by Register, Yvette

For some people, networking has a negative connotation; often interchanged with terms such as 'brown-nosing" or "kissing up". Others view networking as an opportunity to meet people and immediately gain access to their contacts. It is time to eliminate any misconceptions formed about networking and appreciate its value. By understanding its importance and em-bracing it as part of your lifestyle, you can master the art of networking and make the best connections for business and personal success.

Networking in a Nutshell

Business professionals define networking in many ways. According to Sherry Griffin, operations manager for dealer development at Ford Motor Com-pany in Kansas City, MO, "Networking is developing relationships with various people and resources that can help your career." Griffin believes that networks can be formal or casual and are not limited to career enhancement only. Net-working can help you develop personally, too.

Vice president and area sales manager, Reginald Jones of Key Bank in Cleveland, OH, says, "Networking is an opportunity for individuals to expand their centers of influence." No one can have access to all the information needed. Networking can provide a way to get information from people, which is especially critical for new employees. Jones believes, "You can not go through a corporation without help." Networking is the vehicle to provide you with the help to be successful.

Regional consultant for the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee, FL, Ike Gibson, Jr., Ph.D., provides a more analytical definition of networking. "Networking is a systematic way of integrating systems of communicatio for both personal and professional enhancement," says Dr. Gibson. I The bottom fine is, networking is about building and maintaining relationships. It is about sharing resources. As the countdown to the new millennium approaches, Afri-can American collegians must consider constructing a network before they graduate. By laying the foundation early, you can start a network that you can build on and use to enhance your career or personal goals in the years to come. Anetwork is not something that you build over-night. It takes time. Reginald Jones began networking at age 12, through race relation efforts in his community.

The Benefits of Networking

There are many benefits to networking. According to Dr. Gibson, "Research has shown that networking is important." After you determine the feasibility of networking and it makes sense, then you should by all means, do it. In Dr. Gibson's line of work, networking is necessary. He works in the area of leadership training and counseling education. Referrals are used to get his job done. "How can you expedite the job process if you do not have an esta lished network?"

James H. Moore, sales manager for America Online in Vienna, VA, confirms that networking can definitely help your career. The opportunity for him at AOL came from a member of his network. "It is beneficial to network because that is how most things get done in our culture. The best jobs and scholarships are not in the newspaper," advises Moore.

Networking can not only help you get a job or help you change careers, but it can also "eliminate you from being a candidate for downsizing," explains Jones.

The old saying, "It's not what you know, but who you know" is true. However, to remain competitive, African-American collegians can modify this phrase to "It's what you know and who you know," as you prepare for the fast approaching millennium.

How do people get promoted? They know someone, yes, and the door is opened. However, according to June Taylor, president and owner of The Redmond Group and radio talk show host of Career Talk on WERE AM 1300, in Cleveland, OH, "When someone knows what you can do and they can trust you to deliver and get the job done, this knocks the door down."

Networking is not a replacement for the ability to perform a job. It is a vehicle to help you use the skills and knowledge acquired to properly position you in your career.

Networking Tips

In his book, Success Runs in Our Race, The Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African-American Community, George C. Fraser, author, speaker and president of SuccessSource, Inc. in Cleveland, OH, provides an in-depth look at networking. He informs college students and professionals of ways to network for a job, tactics for creating your own networking events and exercises for increasing your networking skills. Fraser's book, first published in 1994, spent three and a half years on the best seller's list.

Fraser, who possesses an evangelical zeal for networking, has seen significant progress in the way African Americans network but believes more progress is necessary. "I think there is a new consciousness in our community about the power and importance of networking. I've seen this consciousness rear it's head in the last five or six years. I believe in our culture, everything begins with the word and from the word comes a consciousness and from consciousness comes action and then out of action comes change. I have seen a new consciousness around this idea of networking." Fraser believes his book is one of many things that helped raise the consciousness of networking in the African-American community.