NETWORKING: A NECCESITY FOR EVERY LAWYER

What is networking?

Networking is the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. Networking is the process of creating new relationships (short or long term) and maintaining existing relationships with the possibility if leveraging on such relationships to gain professional or social benefits.

WHY DOES A LAWYER NEED TO NETWEORK?

Richard Goldman in his 2019 publication “Networking: How successful lawyers do it and why you should, too”

The success of a law firm depends on maintaining and expanding relationships with existing clients and attracting new ones.

You can’t do that unless you’re engaging with people and genuinely committed to helping others…

Every person you interact with including family member is your potential client.

You network to gain knowledge and improve yourself and your Career

WHO SHOULD NETWORK?

It is quite important for every “LAWYER” to network

• Keep in touch with old contacts at university, law school, professional, family members, neighbors, former colleagues and even exes.

 

• Keep in touch and build relationship with people at your level in other organizations as they may grow to becomes heads of their organizations or in a position to create wealth for you.

WHERE DO YOU NETWORK?

• Planes, trains, in queues, clubs, outings,
• Professional functions(seminars, conferences, workshop)
• social functions (wedding ceremony, cultural festivities, birthday parties etc.)
• Specialist groups, social media churches,
• Road trips

NETWORKING TIPS:

• Think before you act and speak.
• In new environments, watch others (before you limp scan your environment)
• Avoiding the urge to always criticize. Make constructive criticisms if you have to criticize and be courteous.
• Be open minded. Try to accommodate dissenting views and learn from others if the opportunity avails itself.

NB: You are not reservoir knowledge

• Remember you have 2 ears and one mouth.
• Generate ideas and share with people.
• Be honest.
• Maintain good and stable emotional intelligence

PREPARING TO NETWORK TIPS

• Always have your complimentary cards and use them, when you collect from other read it in their presence!!!
• Target environment. Be deliberate about your networking environment.
• Your appearance head to toe.
• Always appear smart and neat.

 

• Avoid sweaty hands and try to maintain a fresh breath always (always have mints or mouth fresheners).
• Always introduce yourself with confidence and make eye contacts.
• Avoid Drinking/smoking as much as possible depending on your target   environment

Build your profile so people will open to you: “SWOT” (strength, weakness, opportunity and threat)

• Build trust
• Write Articles, attend seminars, make presentations, papers and other publication etc.
• have a research based professional opinion on contemporary issues.
• Continually gain knowledge and upgrade your profile.

N.B LET YOUR ‘SWOT’ FITS INTO YOUR ‘PESTLE’

You are your own Brand Ambassador

• Value integrity – walk your talk.
• Eliminate these words
  • I cant
  • I don’t have the time.
• Say
  • I can
  • I will
  • I am sure
• Set timelines and objectives
• Keep a positive attitude always.
• Prioritize your day.
• Spending less time with  those who add no value to you or your success
• Your Health is your wealth
• Trust leadership
• Invest in solid relationships
• Build relationships
• Read something everyday
• Avoid idle time
• Be positive
• Give respect and expect it
• Be committed and so resilience
• Manage the discipline of finances, alcohol, immoral conduct etc.
• Be positive
• Give respect and expect it
• Be committed and so resilience
• Manage the discipline of finances, alcohol, immoral conduct etc.
• Be disciplined
• Plan
• Eat with only 3 fingers not four
• Don’t compare
• Be contented and grateful
• Be generous
• Serve other gladly
• Faith – a faith that has not been tested can’t be trusted
• Put God in the picture.

Don’t carry emotional baggage.