In the last year or two, I’ve been fortunate and grateful to have some wonderful professional development opportunities present themselves to me. The growth through building new skills, networking, and shared experiences has been very fulfilling and rewarding. When others have asked me how I got into or was exposed to some of these opportunities, I continually land on the same word over and over again: curiosity.
Networking has tremendous value, whether it’s finding virtual government internships, attending professional events, or whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, it’s an essential skill to develop.
My superpower has been curiosity through and through. Reaching out to others while being genuinely interested and inquisitive has resulted in powerful connections and fun opportunities. I also approached these interactions with zero expectations of anything happening, in particular, with getting anything in return.
Simply asking a colleague, whether known or unknown, “What you are up to with this temporary job detail?” or “What do you actually do in your job?” have been great icebreakers for me to get someone else talking about themselves and their current events. By asking these types of questions, I’ve been given the opportunities to build leadership development programs and be a lead trainer for an international training event.
Your mindset will have an influence over how you approach and conduct your networking activities. Being the learner is essential, rather than the “what’s in this for me?” hat or any other alternative. If you’re engaging with someone who’s in a position you desire or a field you’re hoping to break into, how does a self-directed approach impact how open and curious you are? What information and/or connection are you closing yourself off to when you’re more focused on you than the people you’re reaching out to?
Wondering about the other people you’re connecting with will undoubtedly make your conversations deeper and more interesting because you’re exploring a variety of places and topics that make up who the other person is. Your authenticity will shine through in the form of your curiosity, which will make you more attractive to be connected with in the first place.
Being curious and staying curious also mitigates any nervousness, fear or judgment you may have or experience when it comes to networking. Challenge yourself to learn a certain amount about each person you want to talk to. Go beyond the surface level too. Think about provocative questions you want to ask, which other people are never asked during their daily lives.
Of course, be ready to share your reasons why you want to network with someone by framing those around your learning and seeking understand something they are experts or knowledgeable about.
Networking can be fun and exciting if you want it to be. With the learning mindset and having genuine curiosity in your approach, you’ll likely be surprised at what can come out of your conversations.
Matt Wallat serves as a District Ranger with the National Park Service (NPS) in Colorado. His 20-year career spans eight different NPS units in six different states with assignments in patrol, investigations, program development, court liaison, training officer, and supervisor for 11+ years.
With a strong background in employee development, Matt is an active agency instructor/presenter, continues to evolve with his coaching practice, creates leadership training opportunities, engages in curriculum design work, and led a recent international training program in Tanzania.
He enjoys family time and many other interests including fly fishing, creative DIY projects, music, craft beer and Boston sports.
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