In the second part of our conversation with Theresa Royal Brown the founder of Entrepreneur Professional Network and CEO of Premier Events Management we dive deeper into our conversation around networking. In today’s episode, we discuss where you will find networking opportunities and how you should conduct yourself when you meet them.  

:01 – Do people need formal events to network or can impromptu situations pop up?

It is often thought that in order to “network” we must be at an actual “networking” event. Theresa shows us that this couldn’t be further from the truth.  Theresa explains that regardless of where you are, networking happens. Networking happens everywhere and we must be conscious of that and how we act.  Whenever we are, whether it be new places, common areas like a grocery store, or in an elevator, we have the potential to connect with people we don’t know.  It’s here that we begin to network. You never know who you may cross paths with & because of that, we must always put our best foot forward. 

2:06 – This leads us to Theresa’s next main point: you have to be nice to people all the time. 

 You never know what opportunities you may be presented with unknowingly.  It is the little compliments that can go a long way to helping you open a conversation.  A small compliment could open up a door to a conversation that excels your next career move. Never miss an opportunity to network. 

Does this look different when networking internally in an organization? 

When you are networking internally this may look like being nice to people in the hallway, talking to people on the elevator. Theresa has seen many people get jobs by doing these small things. Your personality will be the first thing that people see come through and help to open the door for you.  

3:43 – The gatekeeper you must get to know at any company is the receptionist.

Theresa explains how the receptionist at a company can become your biggest ally internally.  Treat them kindly & strike up a convo with them. When the time comes that their boss is looking for someone, you will stand out in their mind and that could make the difference between you getting looked at or overlooked. This goes back to Theresa’s initial comment of making sure that you are nice to everyone. 

4:52 – How can organizations help facilitate networking & building relationships within the organization? 

Theresa emphasizes the value again of simply getting “back to the basics”.  There seems to be a trend of companies moving away from events that facilitate teammates connecting, such as a company BBQ, but really these events are quite valuable.  We need to incorporate more correspondence internally.  It’s not just about networking, it comes down to having great relationships between employees, this includes zoom calls, telephone calls, internal messages and events if possible. In the end that is how you sustain & build great employees — collaboration over competition in culture. 

7:20 – Remote workers & companies can still build that “culture of collaboration”.  While many companies are choosing to change the way their employees are working, allowing them the option to work remotely does not mean that you can not create a culture of employees who feel connected and valued and part of a team. Connecting via Zoom where you can have that face-to-face contact can provide valuable connections between a team. Moving away from just emails to more personal and face-to-face connections will serve your business & your team better.  

Networking happens all around us, every day. It has no specific venue or timeframe, it is a constant in our everyday lives and Theresa emphasizes that we must treat all our connections as if they are opportunities to connect, learn and network. 

Connect with Theresa Royale Brown

Website– https://premiereeventsmanagement.com/ https://www.epnetonline.com/?fbclid=IwAR1F9aHmKrR5U76FotUtpZbmhD0GlmJjTpowncmGlLBvQV3HopztEc-O5yU

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaroyalbrown/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/theresaroyalbrown/