Social Networking Success with Vivian Lee Croft

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Regina Anderson

I wanted to continue to demystify social networking by talking to someone whom I think is a pro at social networking. I met Vivian Lee Croft through social networking guru Tom Baker. Vivian attended a monthly networking event Tom and I co-host called Power Hour. I wanted to talk with Vivian because I like concrete examples of this idea of social networking.

RA: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
VLC: This is hard. I’m essentially a professional volunteer. I’ve a degree in Creative Writing and also Communications and Rhetorical Studies. I’ve helped my friend Laura Miller work on her amazing Secret Agent L project since we met at Duquesne two years ago. I bike and hike and hang out with my boyfriend and our two dogs. I co-host a morning networking event with Tom Baker each month called The Morning Mix.

Vivian Lee Croft with Tom Baker of the Morning Mix. Photo courtesy of Baker Leadership

RA: Why do you think people do not like the term “social networking”?

VLC: I think the term can come across as stale and self-serving. Its probably not a term young adults think is applicable to them. In fact, in my introduction to networking, I’ve found young adults to be great at social networking. I’ve attended events full of young adults and events with older professionals. Young adults actually put the term ‘social networking’ to good use.

I’ve made great friends and wonderful professional contacts through networking events. Young people are excited about affecting their communities and are really committed to working together for positive results.

RA: How has social networking helped you?

VLC: Networking has been a key component in introduction to and inclusion in Pittsburgh. It introduced me to my boyfriend. It introduced me to great friends. It provided me with a job. It has allowed me to get involved with projects and in organizations I may not have found on my own. It’s the reason I love Pittsburgh.

RA: What is your preferred method of social networking?

VLC: I’m actually quite shy and approaching people I don’t know is sometimes kind of scary. But I like events that allow young adults to mingle and connect in their projects and find each other on that sort of grass roots level. I have lots of friends who introduce and connect their friends via email, which I’m a big fan of.

RA: What advice do you have for people that are just beginning to network?

VLC: Don’t be shy; bring a friend and attend a variety of events, even if you think a certain event is not your style or is not exactly the right fit for you. Networking is just that – it’s expanding your network and growing your personal community. You never know – the next person to help you get to your next goal could be someone you’d never meet in your traditional network. The next person you could hep reach their goal could be at a networking event or a happy hour or a mixer that you’d never thought of attending previous to telling yourself, “Alright, I’ll check this out.”

Thanks Vivian for your great advice, and to all of us reading this post, as Tom Baker would say, Get Involved today! Power Hour and the Morning Mix are two great ways to kick start your involvement in the community!

Paying it Forward with Nominations

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Regina Anderson

Image extracted from: The Wild Bore Blog

Lately, I feel there has been a lot of coverage about “paying it forward” and the pluses of doing things for the benefit of others. I know on Twitter, the RIC follows a woman named Secret Agent L who uses her account to promote great events hosted by other people. She has a large following for this very reason, and therefore, if your event is promoted, you’re in front of a large, diverse audience.

So many of us are always looking for ways to “show the love” to people or organizations that mean a lot to us, and sometimes, we just can’t volunteer more, or write another check, but there are other ways to show your support through nominations.

There are requests for nominations floating around all the time. Have you heard of Pittsburgh 40 Under 40? This is a way to recognize 40 individuals that are making a positive impact in the Pittsburgh community and the people selected were all nominated by their friends and peers. Coro Pittsburgh is proud to know that every year there are alum, program graduates and staff selected for this honor. Actually, our annual fundraiser, the Martin Luther King Leadership and Diversity Awards also depends on nominations from our community.

Just recently, I was among a large group of people that nominated Tom Baker, Vice President of Programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh for the Jefferson Award hosted by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette to recognize individuals that effect positive change in their communities.

The impact of nominations has many effects:

1) You feel great talking about someone or an organization you admire, respect and care about.

2) Even if that person isn’t chosen for the award for which you nominated, that person is so appreciative that you made the effort.

3) It’s important to sing from the rooftops the positive things people are doing every day–the inspiration that causes cannot be measured. Someone might learn about a new organization or a new effort and might be inspired to volunteer–you never know.

Nominations are quick and painless!

Image extracted from: PRWeb.com

Nominating someone really doesn’t take a long time. I think the most I have ever spent on an application is 30 minutes. Typically nominations take literally 5-15 minutes because you are asked questions like “why do you think this person deserves this award?” You have the opportunity to speak from the heard.

Get your nominations done today! There are plenty of opportunities including:

Pittsburgh 40 Under 40

Baker Leadership has multiple awards

Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence Award

Cystic Fibrosis Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest

Gilda’s Club Faces

Preparing for Informational Interviews

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Regina Anderson

Image extracted from: Tudhope's Networking Notes

Here are a few more tips to ensure you make the most of your informational interviews. Let us know if you have any tips you would like to share.

* When you confirm the meeting date and time, include your cell phone so the interviewee can contact you if anything should arise, and be sure to check your email before you hop the bus or commute over to the meeting location. You never know.

* Bring your computer with you, or a project you can work on. You just never know if someone will be late, or get called away for a second. Having your laptop or work ensures you can remain productive no matter what happens.

* Be prepared to pay for coffee. You’ve asked the person for their time, and paying for coffee is a nice gesture. Though as informational expert Tom Baker has told us, “I offer to pay, but usually the interviewee will pay.”

* Take notes on what you hear. While you should have your questions already in mind and will just want to say them, you’re going to hear a lot of useful information that you will want to follow up on later including more great people with whom to reach out.

* Do your research as Tom Baker, VP of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh and founder of Baker Leadership mentioned in our previous post on informational interviews. Does the person have a LinkedIn account or a blog? Your questions should be more upper-level than, “what do you do at your company?”

* Kelsey Halling, Outreach and Development Coordinator at Coro Pittsburgh also notes, “try to go into the conversation knowing something you have in common with the person. This helps the conversation become more personal.”

How to network: Informational Interviews

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Regina Anderson

The best way to find a great job, find new volunteering opportunities, or to meet new people, is to network in ways that are most appropriate for our unique personalities. When we work within our strengths, we’re more apt to see great results.

Informational interviews is one example of social networking. These information gathering opportunities are perfect if you have a very specific goal in mind: learning about how someone’s career path landed that person in the very kind of job you would like some day; or, understanding the software design community in Pittsburgh. Informational interviews are also good for those of us who might not want to chitchat, or go to large social events and flourish in one-on-one situations.

I decided to have my own informational interview with an expert on this topic.

Tom Baker is the Vice President of Programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. Tom spends his time helping people at any stage in their careers achieve their goals and to “Get Involved.” Get Involved is the tag-line for Baker Leadership, a soon-to-be nonprofit Tom started as a way to get people off their couches and into the community.

As part of Baker Leadership, Tom designed and implemented a training program called Fast Track Service and Leadership Program, which is an opportunity for young and young thinking members of the Greater Pittsburgh community to learn and collaborate with other positive and motivated professionals.

Fast Track participants take part in leadership oriented activities and exercises

RA: Why do you promote informational interviews in Fast Track?

TB: Informational interviews are such an easy mechanism to expand your network and meet people whom you would aspire to be like or to hold a similar role. As young professionals and students it is especially simple to make these happen. The key is to make the interview about the person whom you seek out but you should be prepared to answer questions.

RA: How should people prepare for an informational interview?

TB: Do your research on the person you want to meet. It is important to not ask questions that can be learned through an internet search. Know your facts and come prepared with a solid list of questions in mind.

RA: What expectations should people have going into an informational interview?

TB: One main thing to remember is that this is not meant to be a high-pressure situation for the interviewee. They are there to tell their story and provide some insight and guidance to you. You should not expect a job, internship, or anything specific out of the meeting. These positive occurrences can definitely take place, but it should not be your expectation. If all you gain is some terrific information and a potential contact for the future, then you have still conducted a successful informational interview.

RA: What kind of follow up is involved with an informational interview?

TB: Make sure to send a thank you card and note to the interviewee. Find ways to keep in touch with them as time moves on. If there is a way to invite them to participate in your life (speak at your staff meeting, Rotary Club meeting, etc) that is a great way to continue the relationship.

RA: What is your favorite informational interview story?

TB: I have definitely heard stories of informational interviews turning into job opportunities over time. All 13 graduates of the previous Fast Track Class completed informational interviews and had excellent stories to share with Holly [McIntosh] and I about their experiences. I would encourage anyone reading this to simply reach out TODAY to someone who they admire and would want to learn from. You are always busier tomorrow than you are today, so develop a connection and relationship now.

Tom Baker with the inaugural Fast Track Class

Thanks, Tom! To learn more about how to Get Involved TODAY, contact the RIC team, or go to Tom’s website, http://www1.bakerleadership.com/