Ten Habits Day One – First Habit Networking – Speak Up!

OK, so I realize that in the original post I wrote up about the ten habits, I had this as part of the tenth habit. But I wanted to touch on this first since we’re doing an interactive series. Speak up!

Make Introductions for Others

Sometimes this means being willing to introduce two different people in your network to each other. Something I actually did twice just today. Two mothers with a common medical interest and cause so I said, “Hey! Have you met @SoAndSo on Twitter yet? She’s dealing with this exact issue right now.” In another case it was two writers, one with an opportunity she couldn’t do alone, and another with fantastic qualifications to help! An email introduction meant that both parties knew who the other was and were able to connect to work on mutually beneficial projects I wasn’t personally the best suited to take on.

Are you speaking up? or staying silent? Is this the image you present to your community? Photo by StillSearc

Leave Comments and Introduce Yourself

If you’ve never left a comment on someone’s blog before, you should really consider doing so. A comment says, ” I see you. I am paying attention. I find you of value.” A comment can be a great way to introduce yourself to someone new you hadn’t previously connected with.

Join in the Conversation

Over one hundred people read my Ten Habits of Successful Blogging post the first day. Several commented to me privately via Twitter DM or email but relatively few left a public comment. Sometimes one of the scariest things, especially for those who are just starting out and don’t feel “qualified to contribute” is to speak up and put themselves out there. It can be very tough unless you think of it as just sharing your opinion vs contributing an expert tip. Everyone has an opinion. And yours is every bit as valid as mine, right? So don’t be afraid to share.

So then – any guesses what today’s “assignment” is?

1.Leave a comment below. Be sure to put your blog website in the link and include your Twitter ID in the comment field. Take a second to introduce yourself, your blog, and share what you hope to gain from this series.

2. Look for ways to introduce people in your community who may not know each other, but should.

3. Take the time to click through onto one of the other participants blog/website and check out some of their posts. When something catches your attention, leave a comment offering an opinion, thought, different point of view or expanding on what was said.

And of course – if you have an opinion about speaking up, leaving comments and sharing your thoughts on others’ blogs I’d love to hear it below! Or blog about it on your site and link back here – just let me know so I can come and comment! Lol!