Networking. That's what we are all here to do, right? So, why is it that we frequently fail to take full advantage of resources at our disposal? Are we so busy that we cannot even think straight? (Probably!) Do we need to know what the benefits of networking are? (Maybe?) Do we know how to network? (Maybe not!) This article will hit on all of these points and offer you a "how to" guide for networking.

My Networking Story
I am the Program Manager for Diversity at Keane, a program launched in 2002. Last year, we launched our first networking/affinity group, the Women's Initiative Network (WIN). Collectively, the founders of both WIN and the Diversity program itself reached out to our various organizations and networks for lessons learned by others who had already established programs. Advice came from the members of ASTD, WITI, DiversityInc, SHRM, the Conference Board and a variety of other professional organizations.

As Keane's WIN approached its first anniversary, we identified questions that we wanted to discuss with other leaders who either founded or are running similar networking/affinity groups. The Steering Committee charged me with doing such outreach with one caveat: speak to people that I have not previously spoken to and get new perspectives. This was a real challenge for me as I am active in WITI, NAFE and ASTD. Each organization and network offers a unique support system that contributes to different facets of my job as Program Manager in Keane's Learning and Organizational Development group.

To find these new perspectives, I searched WITI's Members Directory for fellow Human Resources professionals believing that I was likely to find others involved in networking/affinity groups or Diversity programs. After locating the type of individuals I needed, I sponsored the conference call to bring everyone together. Our discussion was insightful and lively. With the group being so small, everyone had an opportunity to be heard. The meeting was so successful that participants wanted to stay in contact with each other. We are now in the process of forming a more permanent networking group and will conference again in a few months.

How can you replicate this success? Let's look at one model.

How do you network?
I believe that many of us do not tap our networks as often as we could because we don't really know how to do so or when it is appropriate. Of course we all see the "I need a job" or "I need customers" postings. But, what if you simply have a business problem that you are struggling with and need to insight from others in your same boat? Reach out, offer a connection, and see who joins the party. The following is a framework you can use to get started.

1. Define Your Need
What do you need to accomplish from this connection? Do you need to reach a mass audience or just a few key people? Are you looking for a one-time meeting or an ongoing discussion of an issue? How likely is it that others are experiencing something similar?

2. Determine Meeting Structure
How can this meeting be structured to meet your need? Will email be most effective? What about a discussion board posting? Will a telephone call do the trick? Does the issue require face-to-face interaction? Think about the pros and cons of each forum as you structure your meeting.

3. Extend Invitations
Invite people to your meeting in a manner consistent with who you want to reach. If you want a small discussion group, extend a personal invitation and explain that the meeting will be small and interactive. Sometimes a discussion board thread does the trick, and the post itself is the invitation to join the discussion. You can personalize a discussion thread by sending the link directly to a few colleagues and inviting a reaction/follow-up post.

4. Conduct Meeting
Be prepared to be active and lead the meeting. If you are not comfortable with that, find a colleague who is skilled at meeting facilitation and ask for a favor. Whether you are meeting for a full day, a few hours, or a few minutes, the organizer needs to plan the meeting to meet the objectives and ensure that all invitees have an opportunity to participate. Don't forget to start and close by thanking everyone for their participation.

5. Determine Follow-Up
Once the meeting completes, participants will want to know, "What now?" Will you circulate meeting notes? Do you want to get together again? If so, is there enough interest to start a formal group? Many times, people simply want to extend their network opportunities and a simple exchange of contact information is in order. As the meeting leader, you need to take the responsibility to get that information circulated.

Everyone is so busy these days that it seems we don't stop to take full advantage of resources at our disposal. Perhaps if more of us explain a benefit that we have received from belonging to a network, others would see why participating matters. Better yet, if those of us with use good networking skills take the time to discuss how issues were resolved, others would see that spending a little time on a network can result in saved time dealing with issues. This article proposes one framework for making a networking connection. Use it as is or modify to suit your need. However you do it, get out there and connect!

What is your point of view? Please post your thoughts on the discussion board.

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