I log onto my e-mail, and there it is: another announcement for a meeting, conference, workshop or forum seeking to draw fire and emergency services officers together. I ask myself, do I hit the delete key or should I read on?
With some chagrin, I recognize that the answer to that question squarely depends on the location of the meeting. A desirable location fuels further interest, while an unremarkable destination or difficult travel moves my desktop cursor toward the trash can icon. But most of the time, I do the right thing and check it out.
With measured regularity, I make it a point to attend and participate in these types of events because getting together with my peers is rewarding and productive. I challenge my colleagues–and you–to do the same.
However, sometimes a colleague, member on my board or even a citizen asks me to justify my involvement in these events. They ask what makes attending outside events and functions worthwhile. My response: Networking.
Networking enables you to make important connections with others within the fire community. These interactions are integral to your success as a leader, so you should ensure that it’s a component of your professional experience.
I’m not alone in my opinion; leaders throughout the fire service vouch for the importance of connecting with peers and mentors outside your workplace. You’ll even find networking encouraged and recognized in the credentialing process for Chief Fire Officer Designation.
So, what are the main benefits of networking with others? Here are several to consider.
Perspective
Stepping away from your desk and the associated intense daily schedule, and into a professional association, workshop or conference, gives you the opportunity to gain perspective. A familiar adage, “You can’t see the forest for the trees,” illustrates the need for perspective. When directly involved in an issue on a day-to-day basis, our vision of the overall picture can become limited. When we step away, we gain a different view that brings greater clarity based on a broader understanding.
Example: Consider facing a recurring, stubborn problem with a particular piece of equipment, even after your staff’s best efforts and trips to the dealer’s service center fail to solve the problem. Just when you’re about to consign the equipment to a trash dumpster, you attend a meeting of colleagues from around your state.
During a break in the meeting, a conversation grabs your attention. The small group is talking about an equipment problem that mirrors your own. Then comes the bittersweet moment when the group’s discussion leads to the realization that it isn’t the equipment, but rather a problem with training that could easily resolve the issue. As you step back from the “trees,” you discover a strategy to solve the problem you wouldn’t have otherwise gained.
Thus, networking offers perspective and an opportunity to take a comprehensive look at an issue, rather than merely focusing on its components.
Possibilities/Potential
In the fire service, we must be careful not to use old approaches to solve new problems. Networking with other leaders can introduce new methods for problem solving. Investing time and energy into a network of colleagues creates the opportunity to look at issues with fresh eyes and explore new problem-solving possibilities.
Quite a few years ago, fire service promotional exams were rigid written examinations that often failed to identify the most capable promotional candidates. In the midst of my frustration about this issue, I attended a state fire chiefs’ meeting. Over lunch, one of our colleagues began talking about a promotional selection process that his brother was using in a different industry.
The process, termed an “assessment center,” was a radical departure from our traditional written exams. Our table buzzed with both interest and skepticism. The genie, however, was out of the bottle–several motivated and creative members of our state association took the idea and ran with it. Before long, our association began offering training on how to use this new process and how to function as an assessor. Many contemporary fire service organizations now rely on assessment centers as an important element of their promotional processes.
The bottom line: Networking opened the door to new possibilities and the potential for finding a more effective way of conducting our business.
Prospects
Networking also creates a source for new job opportunities and prospects.
While wandering the Internet, I discovered Federal Bureau of Labor statistics that indicate 70 percent of all jobs are found through networking, while a modest 15 percent are found through a search firm. Only 2 percent result from distributing resumes. Most people are hired because they’re in the right place at the right time. To take advantage of this fact, build and stay in contact with your network.
In addition to job contacts, your networking efforts can open the door for mentor/protégé relationships. You may be in a situation where you could benefit from a mentor to help you navigate uncertain waters or gain insights for success. Turn the tables and you might meet someone who would benefit from your guidance.
Networking Tips
If you’re unfamiliar with how to best take advantage of networking, here is a short list of suggestions on how to make it work for you:
- Establish networking goals. Know your interests and needs, and understand your skills and abilities.
- Build your network by joining professional groups, holding volunteer positions, contributing and being visible.
- Always carry your business cards; ask contacts for their cards, and make notes on their cards to recall discussions.
- Maintain your network with up-to-date data, keep regular contact with members, and always include a personal note.
- Be genuine and authentic; build trust by helping others; be a good listener; and ensure a fair exchange.
- Become a resource for others, always follow up on actions promised, deliver what you promise and be reliable.
Conclusion
Networking broadens your vision, opens your mind to new possibilities and offers valuable job and recruiting prospects. The connections made through networking can help you succeed personally and professionally. You can better understand what you are facing, you can gain problem solving options, and you can realize stronger possibilities for yourself and your team.
So, don’t forget to get together–we all need and want the encouragement that networking brings.
