TAG: elevator speech

Networking for Music Entrepreneurs: Using Your Head and Your Heart

I love teaching networking because it is such a valuable skill for musicians.  And my recent networking class at Yale was such a treat because for the first time ever, I had a group where nearly half of the students enjoy networking! As a result, my “experienced” networkers were able to share their successes with their colleagues which both reinforced the importance of networking and showed other students what to do in order to incorporate networking into one’s arsenal of career-building tools. 

The bottom line:  networking involves both your head—being strategic—and your heart-being intuitive and sensitive to building quality relationships. 

Let’s take a closer look at what worked.

Input: When does it all come together so that you can figure out your career path?

There is a strength called Input.  It comes from the Gallup Strengths Assessment called StrengthsFinder 2.0.

Input is the way someone learns and uses knowledge and information. People who are strong in input collect information and call it up when they need it.  Input people enjoy learning in order to use the information.  They will read enough to get the idea and store it away, as opposed to learners who are fascinated with the process of learning and will delve into things deeply.

Input is a strength because input people tend to make interesting and novel connections between seemingly disparate pieces of information.

I know this strength well because it is one of my top strengths.   I find that a lot of my clients have this strength as well.

The Principles of Effective and Effortless Networking

Networking is one of the best ways to advance your career.  In my experience, it can make the difference between “good” and “great”.  Yet, for many people, networking is a terrifying experience.  Common objections include:

  • I do not like to make “small talk.”
  • I can’t possibly introduce myself to strangers.
  • Why would some famous person want to talk to me?
  • I hate selling.

Your Elevator Speech: The Key to Connecting Effectively and Effortlessly

Networking is one of the key tools that can make the difference between a good career and a great career.  Many people shy away from networking or fumble around when meeting new people because they do not know what to say about themselves.   They are missing an opportunity to connect with the very people whom need them! The secret is in crafting a short and powerful “elevator speech”.