Lynne has built her business on helping people put the tools of networking to work by reaching business and career goals. She is the co-author of the book Make Your Contacts Count and pointed me towards her site to share the 8 Competencies of Professional Networking with my readers.

Courtesy of Lynne, here is a quick glance at the competencies. Check out the website for full definitions and action steps.

1. Capitalize on Style – appreciate how personality, mindset, and attitudes affect the ability to build relationships.
2. Take a Strategic Approach – target specific organization and career outcomes and agenda build for networking events and outcomes.
3. Envision the Ideal Network – identify WorkNet, OrgNet, ProNet and LifeNet contacts and leverage opportunities with each.
4. Develop Relationships – see relationship building in stages and manage the trust building process by building character and competence.
5. Increase Social Acumen – become more comfortable, confident, and professional by mastering relationship rituals.
6. Assess Opportunities – choose optimum networking opportunities and make participation pay off.
7. Deliver Value – contribute to the organization’s networking culture and capitalize on networking to affect the bottom line.

You can even test your own networking skills by taking the Networking Competency Assessment on the bottom of the Contacts Count homepage. As you start the New Year with a focus on relationship building, you can learn a great deal from Contacts Count and Lynne Waymon’s expertise. Thank you for sharing, Lynne!

So how do you realistically achieve this workplace nirvana and encourage buy-in from all colleagues for a gossip free work zone? A big factor is accountability and making sure everyone is onboard for the new and healthy attitude. A values agreement or contract that is devised by the team can be a great place to start. When colleagues are part of developing a new system or set of expectations they have more vested interest in the success of the program.

In reality, it all boils down to how individuals communicate. McKnight’s company uses a communications assessment to determine a person’s dominant communications style. If someone types as a “red” they appreciate directness while a “blue” enjoys having all the details and time to process. “Yellows” are spontaneous and enjoy personal connection and the “greens” are sensitive and tend to be compassionate and supportive.

Name plates on each person’s desk identify their dominant color and this information is also accessible in the company data base if you are not within visual range of a name plate and want to approach a co-worker in a way that is most appropriate for their style. The system promotes harmony with in-person, phone, and email communication as well as company strategy implementation and goal setting.

There are many different personality assessments that stem from the Jung based Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) that may be appropriate for your work environment. Whether you code people with letters, symbols, or colors – they key is to be aware of how different styles of communication can work together harmoniously on the job. The key is awareness and the willingness to work with and not against the grain of each individual.

As for the gossip free workplace, I am all for it since a healthy work environment is more pleasant and more productive for all.

Figure out what kinds of jobs appeal to you first and target your applications accordingly. Focus on your skills and strengths and really consider what you enjoy doing. Taking the time for honest self reflection will save you emotional stress by avoiding a bad career choice that doesn’t match your values, interests, skills and personality in the long run.

Once you know what you want, begin to build relationships with people who do the same kind of work you are pursuing. Chances are you already have these people in your network, or others may know people who can make an introduction on your behalf. By starting with the end in mind and planning from there you can spend your time wisely to build meaningful contacts that could lead to opportunities.

You need to be able to articulate your story about who you are and what you want to do next. Networking is not about asking others for a job. It’s about engendering trust and respect and learning from others so you can move forward with your career goals. Whenever possible, meet face-to-face with your contacts. It’s more personable than phone or email and enables others to see you in action. Strut your professional stuff and make a lasting positive impression. Seek out informational interviews and avoid being a well kept secret by conducting your job search in public.

Research tells us that currently only 4-5% of jobs are secured through job boards and over 80% are found through effective networking. So develop a plan and take the time to meet with people to learn about opportunities, and put yourself out there. There is great wisdom in the philosophy Ready, Aim, Fire! If you do not prepare, you won’t even know what you are shooting for.

You may have heard of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator™ (MBTI) an assessment tool that breaks personality down to 4 preferences.

• Where do you draw your energy? Do you prefer to focus on the external world of people and actions or are you energized by ideas and feelings of the inner world?
• How do you perceive information? Do you focus on the realities of the present or the possibilities of the future?
• How do you make decisions? Are you guided by objective, analytical reasoning or subjective, personal values?
• What is your need for order in life? Do you prefer to be organized and planned or spontaneous and flexible?

Your personality preferences play a big role in the type of work you may like or dislike. Very often I’ll work with clients who wish they could be doing someone else’s job on their organization’s team because their position is simply not a good fit.

Know Thy Self and honor your inborn personality type to help you find a career that matches your natural tendencies. There are many fabulous career coaches certified to administer and interpret the MBTI but I caution you to find experienced practitioners who can guide you through this exciting self reflection. The unofficial online versions cannot give you the full picture of the instrument and how personality plays a role in your career world so take the time to find someone with credentials and experience if this assessment appeals to you.

The MBTI now has expanded versions (Step II and Step III) that delve even deeper into additional competencies and personality traits that may help you further discover your ideal career fit.