Admit it, we’ve all been there. At some point in your career, you’ve said something like these frustrated statements:

• What do you mean, you don’t understand? I emailed it to you!
• Didn’t you get my email?
• Seriously, we had a whole email exchange about this!
• Let me read this email to you, and you tell me if you understand it.

You could be the world’s most skilled communicator, and still have had hundreds of terrible miscommunications online and via email in your career. It’s just too hard to convey tone, emotion, and to be truly clear in email communication. Keith Ferrazi, literally one of my favorite authors of all time and the incredible Never Eat Alone, recently wrote the article “How to Avoid Virtual Miscommunication” for Harvard Business Review. One of his pieces of common miscommunications stood out to me.

Amplify the signal. We often communicate less information than we think we are, a syndrome psychologists call signal amplification bias. Virtual teams, lacking contextual cues that the other person hasn’t understood what we’re trying to say, often hear only too late that “I thought it was obvious that…” or, “I didn’t think I needed to spell that out.”

How to avoid signal amplification bias? Spell things out! Don’t just say, “Circle back with me.” Do you want final input to a decision or just want to be informed of the decision after it’s been made? For important communications, Yael Zofi advises her executive clients to use more than one medium. So, for example, if you have a phone conversation about possible delays in a project, follow up with an e-mail to minimize misunderstandings.

All too often, we think we’re being clear both in person and via email and, in fact, we’re not. We expect others to pick up on our “signals” without remembering that what we’re giving off are our signals, not theirs. Take Keith’s advice, and instead of saying “Circle back with me,” take it a step further and say, “Please check in with me in an hour to let me know you’re on the right track.” Clarity counts in online and email communications!

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They say “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” With at least 70% of available jobs never listed, using your network is more important than ever. Your professional network can be anyone from your cousin to your former employer, to an acquaintance on Facebook. Nurturing professional relationships is just as important as personal ones; it’s easy to drop off someone’s radar when you’re not in regular contact with them. Make great connections now to help benefit your career in the future.

6 Degrees of Separation

If you have a specific goal in mind, determine which people are in a position to help you reach that goal. Even if none of your immediate friends or coworkers has that awesome contact, try social media site LinkedIn. Often you can find hiring managers and other people who can help you through your connections on websites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Ask your contact to do a brief introduction, or make the connection yourself. Dropping an email saying you went to college with so-and-so is sometimes enough to warrant a response.

Maintain the Relationship

Once you’ve established a professional relationship with someone, foster it with attention and care. Don’t overwhelm their inbox, but reach out occasionally after reaching personal milestones (just scored a great new gig)! Often times in business relationships we think to take, take, take. Try giving; offer to help them in a way that’s unique and mutually beneficial. Favors are much easier to come by when you’ve given out some yourself. Be sure to complement and explain to them why you think they’re such a fabulous connection.

Take Action

Remember: its quality over quantity when it comes to professional relationships, and once you’ve developed one you need to tell them what you want. Be specific; successful individuals are busy and don’t have time for guesswork. Whatever you can do to make the request easier for them to fulfill, do it. Want them to forward your Resume to a hot-shot exec? Include it in the email so they don’t have to ask. Trying to get some top-notch work advice over coffee? Give them a few dates and times and let them pick.

A good professional relationship is like a personal relationship, they both involve give and take. Sometimes, professional relationships can develop into a mentor-peer relationship, and that’s great too. Don’t be afraid to be assertive, but always maintain a professional attitude.

Source: NPR

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Photo Courtesy: Eric Audras/PhotoAlto/Corbis

When I moved to San Francisco earlier this year I knew I had a very limited network and what I am trying to do with my business Why Not Girl! would be much more difficult because I didn’t have the personal capitol and network to immediately tap into. So what do you do when you are new to a city and trying to start your own business? Network as much as possible, say “Yes” to practically everything and everyone, and try to find a support group of others who you can bounce ideas off of and help you stay on track – and sane.

I consider myself very lucky that I met another female entrepreneur not long after my arrival to the Bay Area. We met for lunch and quickly realized that coming from different industries, having different personal and professional experiences and bringing our unique perspectives to the table could help both of our businesses.  She, having lived in San Francisco for a number of years, wanted to bring in another entrepreneur who she knew would benefit from our conversation and I had no problem getting to know another person and getting another person’s perspective. So, our little brainstorming group started there.

There are five of us now, including fellow CGN contributor Christie Mims, and our monthly brainstorm sessions are not only professionally useful, but personally fun. Assisted by a little wine and some yummy pot luck food provided by everyone, our meetings give everyone the opportunity to think about their businesses but in a more creative and relaxing format. (This is especially useful when you are having one of those weeks where you are feeling like a failure – a natural roller coaster experience in entrepreneurship.)

Each of us has the opportunity to share the most pressing issue we are facing at the moment and what we need help on. I often find myself writing down a full page of great ideas that I never would have thought of and some that reaffirm thoughts that I already had.  It’s really helpful to hear other opinions and, to be honest, it’s really nice to take a break from your own business and think about someone else’s.  Plus, as we quickly discovered during our last brainstorm, what you think is a great idea for someone else is most likely a great idea for you, too.

So whether you start your own brainstorming group or you join one that is already established, look at it as a fun way to network, socialize and help your business gain ideas. You never know what new thought will come your way, and in our case, you may find an opportunity to work together and create the next world-dominating idea.

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Whether you are looking for new business, a new job, the love of your life (or maybe just a date for Friday night!), networking is an unavoidable fact of life.  Most of us don’t love to do it and could use a little help.  The truth is that no matter what the purpose of your networking, the key to its effectiveness lies in your ability to connect.  That common ground, that spark, that “oh yeah, this person gets me” is what takes you from a business card or profile amongst many, to a person we all want to get to know better…someone we want to buy from, work with, or date – or maybe all three!

I think this Connect With Anyone Creed sums it up perfectly!

Your turn – what are your best tips for connecting with people?  Can you give an example when doing so really elevated the relationship beyond basic networking?

Infographic compliments of Live Your Legend, (a blog devoted to finding and doing work you love).

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It’s easy, in today’s world of social media and electronic communication, to forget that the phone exists. In fact, it turns out, most of us aren’t even checking our voicemail. On CBS News, Laura Vanderkam writes:

A recent survey by eVoice, a provider of virtual phone services, found that only 33 percent of people listen to voice mail from business contacts. Only 18 percent listen to voice mails from numbers they don’t know.

What does this mean? One of three voicemail messages you leave will never be listened to. Does this mean you should discount phone calls and leaving voicemail all together? No. Instead, I implore you to do two things:

1. Keep making phone calls. There is no substitute for your voice! Email cannot convey tone in the way your voice can no matter how well you write. So don’t stop calling.
2. Master these six words: “I’ll also send you an email.” There are numerous reasons to say these six words at the end of any voicemail messages. First of all, it’s great to receive an important message multiple ways as it conveys urgency and also allows the person to receive it in the way that is most convenient for them. Secondly, it shows you are willing to be respectful of that person’s time. And third, it covers your bases if you end up in the voicemail abyss.

Pick up the phone, leave that voicemail, but also….send an email. The double whammy will get you ahead!

The post Six Words to Master Via Phone: “I’ll Also Send You an Email” appeared first on Career Girl Network.

One of my favorite Forbes writers, Meghan Casserly, covers the incredible world of female startups, women changing the world, and most recently what authors Camille Sweeney and Josh Gosfield call “super-achievers” in her article “Super-Achievers Call ‘Community’ The Real Secret of Success.“

Sweeney and Gosfield wrote the book The Art of Doing: How Super-Achievers Do What They Do and How They Do It So Well. And in interviewing some of the best of the best in various fields, they found a strong theme emerged – community.

“Despite the persistent stereotype of the lone achiever, these super-achievers all believe and thrive in a strong and far-reaching community.” Guy Kawasaki, one of the luminaries interviewed for the book, calls it his ecosystem, meaning people whose success is intertwined with his own. “You can apply this theory to a rock band or a puppet shop or a billion dollar startup,” Sweeney says. A community of colleagues, employees and even competitors just might be the most critical component to not just achieving—but super achieving.

If you want to become a super-achiever, find out more of the themes in Sweeney and Gosfield’s book in Meghan’s Forbes slideshow by clicking here. Get super, Career Girls!

The post Secrets of Super-Achievers: Community Ranks High appeared first on Career Girl Network.

Whether you’re the kind of person who loves networking or hates it, someone who adores getting dressed up to go to an event or one who wishes she could stay at home in her sweats, we all have days where the last thing we want to do is strap on our networking shoes and head to a big event. Even for someone like me, who usually loves networking and thrives off of it, these days are inevitable.

I had one of those days last weekend when my husband, some friends, and I had tickets to TEDx Windy City. I’ve wanted to attend a TEDx event for a very long time. I fall asleep nearly every night listening to TED Talks. You’d think, then, that I’d jump out of bed Saturday morning ready to TED out! Wrong! After a very busy week including a fantastic Career Girl Network Sweatworking event in Chicago, and many, many meetings, all I wanted to do was catch up on my sleep. Instead of staying home, though, I went, and just felt a bit anti-social all day. But that’s OK.

So what do you do at an event if you’re just having one of those anti-social days? There are ways to get value from the event even on a low energy day:

• Focus on learning. We go to many events to meet people, to hand out business cards, and to make relationships. Instead, when you feel anti-social, look for opportunities at an event to learn rather than connect.
• Take time to reflect. Especially if you’re attending a professional development event or a conference, there’s often little time to reflect on what you’re learning because instead, you’re networking between sessions. Take the time to sit quietly, read, journal, and reflect on your learning from the day.
• Have one or two targets. Meeting new people can be exhausting when you’re exhausted, so instead of getting in the quantity mode, get into quality mode. Check out Facebook and Twitter for the event and see if there are any key individuals attending you’d like to meet. Take time to seek them out and develop a meaningful connection.
• Take a pal with you. On Saturday, when I felt tired and a bit sick, I was so glad to have my husband and one of my dear friends on either side of me, both of them totally supportive of the fact that I felt 50% of my normal self.

So instead of cancelling the next time you’re just feeling anti-social, try to go and get something great no matter your mood. I did, and I had an incredible time at TEDx, and even a few breakthroughs in my thinking!

The post Attending an Event When You’re Feeling Anti-Social appeared first on Career Girl Network.

New buzzwords constantly appear in business. Synergy, high-performance, blah, blah, blah. It’s easy to hear these words and roll our eyes. Just another buzz word in business. But recently I heard what might be considered a new buzz word, and I simply had to share. A friend of mine from my Minnesota nonprofit days recently did an interview with My Optum Health coining the term “sweatworking.” Julie Gilbert is the CEO and Founder of Wolf Means Business, a phenomenal organization that has pioneered women’s influence within corporations since her time at Best Buy where she founded the first WOLF (Women’s Leadership Forum) group in the country. She is an icon for women in business, and a pioneer in more ways than one. But for anyone who knows Julie, they know she is also as fit as they come. With gym memberships across the country, Julie always makes her health a priority.

In her interview with My Optum Health, Julie talks openly about her strategy of “sweatworking.” Julie advocates building stronger relationships with business contacts by inviting them to work out with you. Instead of meeting for coffee, meet over a yoga or spin class, or spend an hour on the elliptical together, talking through your business concepts.

I have to say, Julie is 100% right. Relationships form when you sweat together and here’s why:

• Instant vulnerability. We could spend years developing strong relationships with those in our networking circles, presenting our best selves. It can take an incredible amount of time before we cross into a truly strong personal and professional relationship that allows candid conversation. Sweating together, whether you believe it or not, makes you instantly vulnerable. You’re no longer hiding behind your heels and business suit. The person you’re working out with just sees a person, a friend, a connection.
• Push the limits, show your salt. Be willing to sweat, and work hard next to someone. It shows your character – who you are, what you’re willing to do, ambition, goal setting, etc. Think about working out even with your mentors. Show them your perseverance and it will spill over into your professional world.

So the next time you’re setting that coffee meeting or happy hour with a new contact or colleague, think about bringing them on a guest pass to your gym, or setting up a time to meet on the yoga mat or spin mat. You might see that sweatworking really takes your networking to the next level.

And!…in 2013, you can “sweatwork” with Career Girl Network in five cities across the nation. In February, we’re launching events in Minneapolis and Chicago! Click here to sign up now to get your “Sweatworking” on with CGN!

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This week is International Networking Week! And whether you’re networking in person or online this week, Career Girl Network is bringing you the best of our networking tips to ensure you’re armed with the right tools to make your networking work for you!

Skyping for Success – Can You Network Via Video?

Hunting and Gathering – Networking With Men

365 Thank You’s – Are You Saying It Enough?

Sharpening Your Social Media Persona

Conversation Starters That Really Work
(And Don’t Make You Sound Like an Idiot)

In honor of International Networking Week, get out there and try some new events, work hard on LinkedIn, and get your network going. It’s the perfect time to do it!

The post It’s International Networking Week! appeared first on Career Girl Network.

Last summer, we gave you the skinny on which women’s conferences are the best to attend, and how you can make the most of your trip to any conference. But today, that advice gets better. We’re bringing you great advice from our friends at Women CEO Project on “How to ROCK a Biz Conference Like a Pro.”

Below are just a few of the tips from Kristi Jackson we love when it comes to hitting up that conference you’re going to next month with GUSTO:

• After registering for the conference, find out if there are any pre-conference virtual chats, tweet-ups, groups chats, etc. where you can meet other attendees and possibly speakers before the conference. This helps you to further plan your strategy and know who is going to be there. Check out some of these potential conference goers on Linkedin.
• Look up the speakers’ websites beforehand , tweet them directly and let them know you are coming and can’t wait to hear them speak.
• Wear comfortable shoes AND bring your flats. You know why.
• Follow up the same day to meet someone. This is one of our Power Moves and it is HIGHLY effective. They will have you fresh on their mind and you can set up meetings before or after the conference to immediately start talking business AND you’ve no doubt taken our tip from earlier this week and have your proposal conveniently located on your phone right?
• I’ve asked a friendly sponsor directly if I could have a VIP Pass for my mother and I to the pre-dinner reception. I told him that this yearly conference with my mother is our special time, and she’s love to meet Judge Hatchett and the rest is history…..

There’s more great advice on rocking the conference AND how to impress those you meet at the Women CEO Project. Click here!

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