Volume XI, Number 1 – April  2008

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Chart your Course West……
                          Networking Opportunities

Our REIC Annual Meeting will soon be here and what a great opportunity to meet colleagues, make new friends and acquaintances….to NETWORK. If you don’t think you have the time to network, think again.

Networking is an essential skill for most businesses and professional people. The strong association between you, as a professional and your business demands that you go out into the world to create and maintain business relationships.

With all the heavy demands made on our time by our work schedule, professional and personal lives, it’s tempting to place a lower priority on networking as an activity designed to meet people. Considering that we have so many commitments at the office and home - to colleagues, family and friends, that it is sometimes difficult to set aside extra time to bring even more people into our lives.

Remember that we are constantly meeting new people each day with no disruption to our schedules through our daily routines. The world is growing smaller every day so take a minute to introduce yourself, by not consistently widening our circles of acquaintances and contacts, we may be curtailing our chances for advancement and success. It’s estimated that the average person knows about 250 people and they in turn know another 250 people. This means that for each new person you meet, you gain access to a potential pool of 62,500 people separated from you by only a few degrees.

Networking is one of the most profitable activities in which one can engage in. Like any endeavour, one can become more effective at it with practice, and it does take a little effort to get it right. It takes only a moments’ conscious decision to become a networker. All it requires is a slight shift in attitude. Greet each new acquaintance with an openness to learn more about that person, a willingness to help, and offer to stay in touch.

There’s no better place to network than at our Annual Meeting in Vancouver where colleagues from across the country and the United States will be in attendance. You will not only network to meet new people, but also to keep your vital communication skills sharp.

With practicing to make friendly conversation; even if no relationship develops, you will likely be remembered as the nice guy/lady if someone asks about you in the future. Here’s another good point, take more business cards than you give out. That way, you are more in control of the tempo of developing relationships.

Most often, networking is less about meeting new people than having them remember you after the fact. The first impression process occurs in every situation. Within a few seconds, people pass judgment about you – looking for common surface clues - once that impression is made, it is virtually irreversible.

So, what better place to practice these skills than at our Annual Meeting in Vancouver, May 28 to June 1st - See you there.

 

Lucien Roy FRI(E) CPM®  CMOC

2007-2008 National President

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