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Executive Coaching, Leadership, Leadership Development, Networking, Soft Skills

Making Connections: The Importance of Networking

John Whitehead
September 10, 2019

I believe the most important commitment I made was to network. I’m convinced that this one thing has been the primary reason for my success to date. I had no real connections when I started in the fall of 2014. My previous role did not provide me with a ready-made network of potential clients or influencers. In fact, I had not attended any networking events in years. I truly began from a standing start. However, in short order I started to accumulate connections and build a network of individuals who have driven my business’s success. My number one piece of advice for anyone who is building their own business is to get out there and meet people, either in person or virtually – network like crazy!

Here are my key networking points:

  • Attend every networking event you can get to in your own and the surrounding communities
    • Chamber after 5 events
    • Downtown Business Associations
    • Local business group lunches
    • Get yourself invited to breakfast networking events (the first ones are almost always free)
    • Other regular events where your target clients/customers may congregate
  • Develop a quick Lunch and Learn presentation that you can offer
  • Join your local Chamber or Board of Trade
    • Look for volunteering opportunities – Chamber Ambassador Programs put you in front of a great number of business owners
  • Connect on LinkedIn, Facebook and other appropriate social media.
    • Create a marketing plan using LinkedIn’s search feature
      • Better still, use LI’s Sales Navigator
    • Contribute writing to blogs – create your own blog focusing on your area of expertise or interest
      • Post your blogs on as many sites as you can that may attract your audience
        • LinkedIn Pulse, BeBee, Medium, branded.me, Facebook….
      • To help you organize all these new connections invest in a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) application (there are several free ones; I use HubSpot)
        • As you move forward you may also want to look at investing in an email marketing service such as Constant Contact. Mail Chimp is a similar tool that is free of charge.

As you read this list, you may hear a little voice in your head telling you, “That’s a lot of work…” or “That will cost a lot of money….” Yes, it is a lot of work and no, done smartly, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. The biggest cost and commitment is time.

John Whitehead, coaches’ individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency.

*******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development Coach is right for you? Contact John for a complimentary, exploratory coaching session at [email protected] ********

If you would like to get notifications for when I post, please go to my blog site and register. I promise I will not spam or use your email address for anything else. You can visit and register for my blog at https://johnkwhitehead.ca/blog-2/

 

Coaching, communication, Interpersonal Communications, Leadership, Leadership Development, personal development, Soft Skills

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate: The when’s & how’s

John Whitehead
September 5, 2019

This week I discuss how and when we communicate with our direct reports and others. Keeping open communication and letting others know you are accessible is one of the keys to being a good leader. So, what are some of the things we can do to make this happen?

John K Whitehead & Associates assists individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by improving their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency.

You can read my blog at https://johnkwhitehead.ca

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Executive Coaching, Leadership, Leadership Development, Soft Skills

What is Your Perspective?

John Whitehead
August 28, 2019

How do you “see” things in your role as a leader? How does changing perspective shift how you lead?

This week’s video blog explores these questions and looks for answers.

 

Let me know what you think?

John Whitehead, coach’s leaders to become more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency.

*******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development Coach is right for you? Contact John for a complimentary, exploratory coaching session at [email protected]********

 

Executive Coaching, Interpersonal Communications, Leadership, Leadership Development, personal development

So What is the Platinum Rule?

John Whitehead
August 21, 2019

At some point in the workshop I conduct on interpersonal communications skills using the SOCIAL STYLEs model, I invariably make the comment that with the knowledge all of the participants have gained during the session comes great responsibility; that with what they have learned about communication and behaviours comes the responsibility of using that knowledge – they can’t unlearn what they have just learned. In the context of my workshop that means using what is referred to as the “Platinum Rule”, which is to “treat others as they wish to be treated” — the exact opposite of the better-known “Golden Rule” that most of us had drilled into us since we were kids: which is to “treat others how we wish to be treated”.

Let me know what you think?

Leadership Development

What’s That Knocking at the Door: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

John Whitehead
August 14, 2019

“The lesson here is to be ready… be ready to step up and be uncomfortable ……get outside your comfort zone …. because those are the opportunities for real growth. Be ready to open that door when it knocks…. There is reason for you to be doing what you are doing, and it will become clear as you go along,  I can say this with confidence, because as I look back over the past 5 years, I’ve experienced it myself.”

 

John Whitehead, coaches’ individuals and organizations in becoming more effective by helping them improve their interpersonal communications, emotional intelligence and resiliency.

*******Are you wondering if having a Leadership/Personal Development Coach is right for you? Contact John for a complimentary, exploratory coaching session at [email protected]********

If you would like to get notifications for when I post, please go to my blog site and register. I promise I will not spam or use your email address for anything else. You can visit and register for my blog by filling the form on the left.