The Role of Networking in Securing Award Nominations
Navigating the competitive waters of award nominations can be a formidable challenge. This article sheds light on the pivotal role of networking, enriched with perspectives from seasoned experts who know the ins and outs of nomination processes. Discover how building authentic connections can open doors to prestigious opportunities and recognition.
- Networking Is Invaluable in Nomination Processes
- Building Genuine Relationships Leads to Opportunities
- Effective Internal Networking Secures Major Nomination
Networking Is Invaluable in Nomination Processes
Networking is invaluable in nomination processes because it can put you on the radar of the people who have the power to recommend or vote for you. For example, I once joined a local industry roundtable where I met a previous award recipient who later nominated me for the same accolade. Our conversations at those events gave them deeper insight into my work and achievements, which made it a natural step for them to endorse me. That personal connection ended up being a critical factor in my nomination.
Building Genuine Relationships Leads to Opportunities
Networking plays a huge role in securing nominations because it's all about building genuine relationships that can lead to unexpected opportunities. I remember a time when I attended an industry mixer and struck up a conversation with someone who turned out to be on the awards nomination committee. We connected over shared experiences and industry challenges, and I made sure to be open and authentic about my journey. Later on, that connection reached out to let me know that they had put my name forward for a nomination. That moment really underscored how nurturing relationships, even through casual conversations, can open doors when you least expect it. It showed me that networking isn't just about exchanging business cards; it's about building trust and rapport that can have a lasting impact on your career.
Effective Internal Networking Secures Major Nomination
Networking plays a huge role in securing nominations. The essence of networking is building relationships by adding value to those you interact with. While working at a Fortune 10 company, I learned a different type of networking- internal. My previous experience had been at smaller entrepreneurial type companies, one of which merged with a much larger company. Effective internal networking within different departments became critical to the success of my sales teams, which ultimately secured me a MAJOR Nomination from Corporate Headquarters.
The relationships I built with managers around the country whose teams implemented, serviced, and managed the products & services we sold were instrumental in delivering the custom network solutions created for our clients. This led to people at corporate headquarters noticing my teams' success. Because I built good relationships with the corporate trainers and made it a point to introduce myself to key executives during the Merger Kickoff, I was nominated for a Key Position at Corporate HQ, which led to my selection as the one sales manager chosen from thousands to help create/deliver a corporate training/reward program for sales managers around the country. If their teams' performance qualified, the Manager earned a trip to Corporate HQ for a two-day "Advanced" training to help scale their teams and deal size quickly, effectively, and more profitably. It's one of the most proud accomplishments I achieved during my Corporate years... and it never would've happened without effective networking to help me cut through the bureaucratic tape of such a large company. This helped achieve significant results for myself, my team, and our customers while also making our results stand out. Say YES to Networking!
