In this episode, Dele discusses the importance of networking and curiosity conversations. Drawing on her experience from attending a recent conference in Philadelphia, Dele shares how making a career change or pivot often relies on the strength of our professional network. But what if you don't know what your next move should be? She offers practical tips on conducting a curiosity conversation, a powerful tool to help you gain clarity and explore new opportunities. From asking open-ended questions to building a deeper connection with the other person, Dele walks you through initiating and having a curious conversation.

Dele also shares how she has personally used curiosity conversations in her own life to uncover new ideas and opportunities. She also explains why KPIs are important in tracking progress toward your career goals. But sometimes, people get stuck when having curious conversations. Dele explores this common stumbling block and guides how to move past it. 

Are you considering a career change or simply expanding your professional network? This episode contains valuable insights and practical advice to help you confidently take your next steps.

Tune in and learn!

Timestamps

[02:11] Some of the concepts that came up at the conference in Philadelphia

[02:59] How making career change or pivoting hinges upon our network

[04:07] Conducting a curiosity conversation when you don’t know what to do

[04:19] Tips to help you network when unsure of your next move

[07:16] What curiosity conversations are and how to initiate them

[08:37] Tips on how to have a curiosity conversation

[11:42] Why asking open-ended questions is the best thing to get the right answers

[13:18] Building a deeper connection and fostering a more meaningful conversation with the other person

[14:15] How Dele has used curiosity conversations in her own life

[16:06] Why KPIs are important

[19:09] Things one can do when having a curiosity conversation to determine the next move

[21:46] One of the parts where most people get stuck when having curiosity conversations and why 

Notable Quotes

• Networking is a critical skill for your career success, regardless of what industry you're in or what job you're in.
• Look for networking events or industry conferences in your area, and then use them as an opportunity to meet new people and learn more about different career paths that you might be interested in.
• The quality of the answer to your question comes directly from the quality of your question.
• Make sure you're genuinely interested in what the person has to say and you're listening to what they're saying, not listening to respond. And then keep asking questions. 
• When you ask them about a curiosity conversation, it's not about you. It's about them. It's about their bandwidth, belief, and ability to create value for you. It's never about you. So if someone says no, it's not about you. And that's okay. If they say yes, that's great.

Resources

If you want to know more about creating intentional pivots, let's connect, and remember to SHARE with your friends!

Check out this template for a curiosity conversation you can use for your networking conversations. 

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Website: https://delekooleycoaching.com/