Transforming Your Professional Network

Status Go Podcast: Episode 23

” When we don’t cross pollinate our networks with different industries and different ideas we start to try to solve our problems in a vacuum. And that doesn’t work. If everyone around the table has the same experiences you do, it’s going to be really hard to get creative.” – Amy Waninger

Status Go Podcast: Episode 23

” Stories build trust, trust builds relationships, relationships build business.” – Amy Waninger

Status Go Podcast: Episode 23

” Instead of conscious decisions about making our world view bigger and bigger and bigger, we are letting our biases make our world view smaller and smaller and smaller.” – Amy Waninger

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Episode 23: Transforming Your Professional Network

How would you rate your professional network? Maybe you feel like it is fairly strong or maybe you feel like it’s a bit lacking. Either way, when was the last time you really analyzed your network, putting time and intent into making sure it is well rounded and diverse? As humans, we tend to lean into the path of least resistance and typically that means we connect with a lot of people who are very much like ourselves, in our own industries and cultures.

Our guest today, Amy Waninger, Founder & CEO of Lead at Any Level, takes us through an exercise highlighting areas where we can strengthen our network and ways to be more intentional about who we are connecting with. Because, as Amy explains, we all have bias, but it’s important to get out of our comfort zones because, “When we don’t cross pollinate our networks with different industries and different ideas we start to try to solve our problems in a vacuum. And that doesn’t work. If everyone around the table has the same experiences you do, it’s going to be really hard to get creative.”

Download the assessment grid Amy reviews, along with complete instructions, so you can “Network Like a CHAMP”!

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Time Stamped Table of Contents

2:33 The importance of a strong professional network

3:58 How Amy is challenging the status quo

5:15 Networking like a CHAMP

10:45 The impact of mentoring

11:48 The role of bias in networking

16:13 Expanding your network

18:42 Finding and filling gaps in your network

24:08 Recognizing and addressing less visible differences

28:07 Tips for introverts

32:23 Immediate action items

Amy C. Waninger, CEO of Lead at Any Level, works with organizations that want to build diverse leadership bench strength for a sustainable competitive advantage. She is the author of multiple books including Network Beyond Bias: Making Diversity a Competitive Advantage for Your Career.

Amy is a Professional Member of National Speakers Association and a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner. Her other credentials include two degrees from Indiana University and a World’s Best Mom coffee mug.