Welcome to Econnect Communication’s August 2007 newsletter –
‘Networking for knowledge’.
The theme reflects our involvement in a number of
interesting networking events this month, and our ongoing
quest for knowledge so we can be more effective in our
business. Of course, the best networking is done face to
face, which was the theme of our July newsletter.
If you have any feedback or suggestions you’d like to
contribute, we’d love to hear from you.
Regards,
Econnect Communication
Jenni Metcalfe, Michelle Riedlinger, Mary O’Callaghan,
Melanie McKenzie, Michelle Burton and (intern) Adriana
Velez.
In this issue: Networking for
knowledge
Five top networking tips
21C networking
Be a joiner
Surf club
Quotation of
the month
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Five top networking tips
By Jenni Metcalfe
-
Be willing to participate:
Sometimes I’d rather not go to a function,
especially after a hard day or a long week. And
when I get there, sometimes I just want to hide
in a corner and nurse my glass of champagne in
glorious solitude. But the first rule of
networking is that you need to be willing to
attend, and circulate. Invariably the effort
pays off—you meet new people and learn new
things.
-
Ask people questions:
OK, so you’ve been introduced to someone
new—then what? You stand around smiling at them
like a fool, wondering what to say next. Ask
them about themselves, what they do, what
they’re interested in. Most people love to be
asked about themselves and it can stimulate all
sorts of conversation.
-
Offer your own knowledge and connections:
And so the conversation starts and you start to
see possibilities. Perhaps you know of someone
else who is working in a similar area. Offer to
make the connection. Provide contact details.
-
Draw others in:
You’re talking to someone and you think that
someone you know might like to meet them.
Perhaps there is a common interest. Take them
over and introduce them and get their
conversation going before you move on to the
next person.
-
Follow up:
So, you’ve made some interesting connections.
Now make sure you leave your contact details
(business cards are useful), and follow up with
an email, phone call or meeting. This is how
relationships develop and are maintained.
21C networking
By
Mary O'Callaghan
‘A future of enormous volatility – and enormous possibility’.
That’s how Canadian political scientist
Thomas Homer-Dixon sees it if we don’t take serious action
on climate change now. While he is pessimistic about the
scientific trends, he is optimistic about our ability to solve
problems.
Speaking at a forum on climate change in Brisbane this week, he
cited ‘parallel problem-solving’ using open source and the
internet as one of our best reasons for hope (as long as we are
informed by the best science).
Open source began as a sharing of software source code, where
anyone could change the source code as long as they made their
changes freely available. The model is now being applied in
other areas. Wikipedia is an example. Open source architecture
is one I’ve just learnt about where building plans are made
freely available (think NGOs in Africa). It made me wonder what
applications open source could have for us at Econnect…
Be a joiner
By Melanie McKenzie
Surf club
We have two great online resources to share with you
this week (thanks to Tony Wheeler, Imagine):
Free knowledge and inspiration
Short on ideas? Check out
www.ted.com – ‘Ideas worth spreading’. Every year,
speakers from across disciplines and cultures are
invited to the TED conference to give ‘the talk of your
life’ in 18 minutes. Launched in April 2007, the website
makes more than 100 of the talks available free under a
Creative Commons licence.
Shift happens
‘If MySpace were a country, it would be the 8th largest
in the world’. Take a few minutes to view fascinating
facts about our 21C world in ‘Did you know’ at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U.
Quotation of the month
There are some things you can't share without ending up
liking each other.
JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,
1997
If we value the pursuit of knowledge, we must be free to
follow wherever that search may lead us. The free mind is
not a barking dog, to be tethered on a ten-foot chain.
Adlai E Stevenson Jr (1900–1965)
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Econnect Communication works with science, environment,
ecotourism and natural resource management agencies to:
•
evaluate and develop communication strategies
•
write and design products that meet audience needs
•
train staff and management in communication skills
Contact us: phone 07 3846 7111; email
admin@econnect.com.au
Website:
http://www.econnect.com.au
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