~ A "Letters from Silicon Valley" Series ~
One thing that’s great about having an O for our University’s symbol is that it reminds us that we’re in a circle of friends. Having friends has been proven to boost our immune system, happiness, and career. Over the years I’ve picked up some tips regarding making friends and utilizing a network to get ahead in life and work. In the Silicon Valley, and elsewhere, it helps to have technical skills in your field. However, career success is still a lot about who you know, and then what you know. So, how do you get to know people and make them want to help you?
Much of it boils down to likability. Below are some networking tips (you can find many more online) that you might consider to enhance your likability when making a quality connection with someone. These tips have helped me immensely in establishing connections and landing positions at innovative companies in the Valley.
1) Remember this: bottom line, it’s about how you make people FEEL. Among other things, you want others to feel valued and warm toward you.
2) Respect everyone.
3) Cultivate a practice where, when you meet someone, you think to yourself “I wish the best for this person."
4) Smile
5) If you’re nervous, try telling yourself that you’re excited to be there talking to the other person. This can actually help you calm down more than telling yourself to calm down
6) Strike a superhero pose (standing with hands on hips) before and/or during your interaction with someone. Studies indicate this boosts confidence and makes others think more highly of you.
7) Show genuine interest in the other person. Ask open-ended initial and follow-up questions. Actively listen.
8) Be present. Put away your phone. Pay attention to the other person and when your mind wanders, just notice it and bring your attention back to the interaction at hand.
9) Let the other person talk most of the time.
10) Be humble.
11) Be positive.
12) Follow the 20/20/20 second rule of conversation, where you have the green light to talk for up to 20 seconds at a time, a yellow light for occasionally talking another 20 seconds, and a red light for almost never talking for more than another 20 seconds.
13) Build rapport and trust by finding something you have in common with the other person and sharing something personal about yourself.
14) Be authentic.
15) Try a little humor. Find something to laugh about.
16) Show some enthusiasm. Maybe use your voice to emphasize something.
17) Be complimentary.
18) Be non-judgmental.
19) Offer the other person help with something, if you can.
20) If appropriate or at an appropriate time in the relationship, let the other person know what you could use some help with.
21) Show appreciation.
22) Follow-up with a nice note.
I wish you the best.
Warm regards,
Humberto
Go Ducks!
Contact:
humberto@chacon.us