In the last episode, you will hear from two trained therapists who discuss how you can find it within yourself to network, naturally. Mark Presnell, Executive Director of the Career Advancement Office at Northwestern University, encourages introverts to overcome their fears and practice the skill of networking, as it is a lifelong process. Marcy Cole, a Holistic Psychotherapist and Goop contributor, explains the benefits of knowing ourselves and our emotions as a means to connect more authentically.

Great networkers don’t have to be the life of the party. Today you’ll hear from Heather Aranyi, consultant, creative entrepreneur, educator at the Lyric Opera,  performer at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and more. She explains how you can each build your own unique personal brand, even if you are introverted and shares insights as to how to optimize your LinkedIn profile.

Scared of the cold email? Me too. But on today’s episode, you’ll meet Amy C Waininger, consultant, speaker, author of the book Network Beyond Bias, and my first cold email contact for this very podcast. She reveals the five types of people everyone should have in their network and explains why a diversity of opinions is essential.

Many people assume that networking is simply transactional, but in reality, effective networkers cultivate authentic relationships, rather than viewing people as a means to an end. Learn how to focus on quality over quantity with Keith Doran, who worked in partnerships at Madison Square Garden and Voray, a platform teaching professionals how to connect meaningfully. We’ve all heard of return on investment, but maybe we should start focusing on our return on relationships.

According to LinkedIn, eighty-five percent of jobs are filled through networking, but many people feel intimidated and lack the confidence to connect with others. We all want to be liked, but we often forget listening is more important than talking when it comes to making meaningful connections. Today, Russell Marriott, who works in Cybersecurity Sales at IBM, discusses the benefits of being an active listener.

You never know who you’re going to meet and how that connection might change your trajectory. While many of us rely on strong ties in the job search, reaching out to weak ties might in fact lead to more success and satisfaction. Learn how to connect meaningfully with Justin Johnson, who works in creator partnerships at Facebook. If this episode leaves you feeling confident and courageous to network, Justin’s handles are below:

https://www.instagram.com/jjohnsontx/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjohnsontx/

Tune in again next Sunday.