Today we publish the first in a series of five articles by Heather White, the professional relationship expert and networker extraordinaire who founded Smarter Networking (whose website also includes more free networking advice). She has tailored this series for budding candidates - although much of the advice will be relevant to anyone in the political sphere. Today she considers how you should develop and execute a networking strategy; next Wednesday she will give advice about how to make a good impression with the people that matter.
The recent expenses scandal and the proposed departures of many MPs, has left many people considering whether to step into the political ring. For some, this is a completely new area and for others it is something that has been dabbled with over time. Moving further than just a toe in the water is not as simple as turning up at your local association though, it requires some serious planning.
While there are obstacles to overcome such as getting CVs together and Parliamentary Assessment Boards (PABs), there is a much wider plan that needs to be instigated if this is a serious career option.
As the founder of Smarter Networking, a company that helps people improve their networking skills, you would expect me to promote the value of building and maintaining good contacts. However it is not just about getting more friends on Facebook or increasing the entries in your phonebook – quality not quantity is the key here.
Ensuring that you are a successful and effective communicator is absolutely crucial when meeting people and determining how they can help influence your future career. It is not just about what you say or how you project yourself but finding out what you need to know and assessing how you are being viewed.
So in the first of my series in improving your networking skills, I am covering how to approach developing and executing a networking strategy.
Politics is one of the most obvious ‘who you know not what you know’ environments out there. It is important, because of the sheer number of people involved in political life from party members, constituents, donors and the upper echelons of the party itself (especially as you get to the dizzy heights of actually being an MP), that you prioritise when you first start out. Knowing who may help and hinder is as important as knowing what to say or what not to say.
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