The way you present yourself to others affects your opportunities to create a sound network. If others perceive you as effective, organized, supportive, and on-the-ball, they are more likely to take notice of you, and to be willing to offer their support. 

"Great! So tell me how to do it," you may say. Everyone networks differently, yet there are certain universal principles. Here are six: 

Excel--Do well at what you do. It's not so much how much you can do, but how well you do it. Show the people around you that you are accountable, reliable, accurate, and able to anticipate and deal with problems. Eventually, they will develop trust, respect, and appreciation for what you do. People are more likely to be supportive and willing to help someone who represents excellence. 

Nurture--Be supportive to others. Even self-motivated people are encouraged and spurred on by a supportive atmosphere. Under such conditions, people are also more likely to open up and share ideas.
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Diversify--Get to know many different kinds of people (with diverse interests and backgrounds). The more people you know, the more opportunity for networking—sharing ideas and support. Expand the diversity of thought, opinion and ideas you're exposed to. Different people view things in different ways, offering new ideas and solutions. Expand your network  to include co-workers, church members, neighbors, and employees of companies where you do business. 

Be visible--Join and participate in various groups. To expand your network and meet new people, you need to make yourself visible. Join groups and associations of people with shared interest. Do you belong to the Adventist Children's Ministries Association? How about any local groups in your community? What other groups or organizations are there of people with similar interests and needs? Seek them out and join.  Personalize--Learn other people's unique qualities. When you meet people, its not enough to remember their name or get a business card. Get to know more about them. What are their interests? Experience? How about their family life? Personality? Background? The more you get to know a person, the easier it is to relate to them, and the more at ease they become around you. This can open up great opportunities for networking—to share ideas, experiences, and gain support.  Organize--Make a networking plan. How can you best make use of these principles in your network? Who can you add to your network list? Start by going through lists of participants in conferences and workshops you've been involved in and add them to your networking list. 

In your networking efforts, remember that you must be willing to give at least as much as you receive from networking—whether that be through experience and resources, or old-fashioned, elbow-grease type help. You must put in in order to take out. 

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