February Networking Ideas

I don't mind this time of year, but then again I lived in New York for a decade and in Chicago for two more. Wait, I almost forgot Pittsburgh. So February in Boulder doesn't totally depress me, although some town around here got 110 mph winds today - like a hurricane without the rain. I almost got blown off the road yesterday in Broomfield.

Anyway, this is a great time of year to network. Everyone is stuck in their offices or home offices or wherever they work. You can shake it up and get some people together. Here are five February networking ideas to give you some important moral support and idea-sharing opportunities this month.

1. Invite three friends who don't know one another, to lunch. Four is a good number, and you'll do each of your friends the favor of introducing him or her to two terrific new people.
2. Do a spa networking thing -- okay, this might work better for women than for men. You can invite people who don't know one another, but if it were me, I'd rather do a spa day with women I already know, because of the scanty coverings involved. Schedule the treatments so that you have plenty of time just to talk. Heavenly!
3. Call a couple of people you haven't seen in ages -- I mean people you're borderline embarassed to call or write to because it's been so long - and suggest a meeting. I'll be very surprised if any of these folks says "What, you?" People like to hear from people they like. You'd be pleased if one of your old cronies thought of calling you. So do it - networking doesn't have a statute of limitations.
4. Ask a friend to go with you to a networking event hosted by a group neither of you is familiar with. Let's face it, you're unlikely to do it on your own. So make it a twosome. You'll meet some new people and with luck, get some good ideas, plus the chance to catch up with your friend on the ride to and from the shindig.
5. Call someone and ask him or her for a catch-up meeting that is not over coffee or lunch. Rather, suggest a walk. Walking and talking is the greatest, and you'll feel much better after your walk-and-talk than you would downing one more cup of coffee. Seriously.

If you are not a natural or a comfortable networker, write to us in the Ask Liz Ryan discussion group and ask for suggestions. We've got loads of 'em. Networking is not just about business leads or job-search leads or any other kind of transaction. The benefits of networking are many, but my top three are: fresh ideas --- moral support --- and the opportunity to help other people. What more could you ask for from an hour's time?