Are social networking sites a waste of time for professionals or a valuable development resource? It's up to you... There are many reasons to engage in networking, particularly using online communities, but one of the most compelling of these may be the contribution that it can make to continuing Professional Development (CPD).
What is CPD?
Professional development is something that should be of interest to professionals in any discipline, at any stage of their career. CPD as a term refers to the process of managing one's own development and growth as a professional, setting learning goals and pursuing a structured set of activities.
What is networking?
Networking - in a professional context - is the process of creating trusting, mutually beneficial relationships that will ultimately help you in some way to access new skills, knowledge or opportunities. Professional networking is not, despite the availability of social networking websites, purely an online activity. Indeed, it's history is as long as any profession's! It happens through training courses, conferences, informal conversations, and many other activities. However, technology has provided the opportunity to greatly accelerate professional networking, given access to much larger, global professional communities, and made it easier to keep in touch with one's contacts.
How can social networking sites support professional development?
As has been alluded to earlier, by actively networking you can gain access to new sources of knowledge, learn new skills and develop competencies.
The word 'actively' is important here. Think about this: If everyone in a community gives something of themselves to that community, the result is a rich body of knowledge and experience, that can easily be found, and contact made.
Since I started networking online I've talked through client issues, shared ideas, and started collaborating with people that I didn't know before. I also regularly share referrals.
Networking isn't just about asking for help. It's no coincidence that the motto and philsophy of Business Network International (BNI) is "Givers' Gain". Networking is about sharing, too. Sharing knowledge, sharing contacts, even sharing business opportunities. But let's focus on sharing knowledge for now.
Most social networking sites allow you to share knowledge. This can be done through blogging, writing articles, and through groups and forums. By sharing your knowledge, whatever that might be, you open yourself up to new and potentially fruitful relationships. Sharing with the community allows people to get an idea of what you can contribute in terms of knowledge, skills and competencies, and helps them to decide whether to network with you. But it also, of course, adds to the overall knowledge of the community.
Case Study: Blogging Teachers
You might still be wondering what you might gain from sharing. You might be sceptical that by giving, you will also receive. I came across a really interesting blog (see external link below) that gave me an insight into the possibilities for blogging and professional development. It referred to a program for teachers that gave them the opportunity to blog their views and reflections on teaching.
Blogging brought a number of benefits to the teachers. First of all, it was a reflective activity in itself, and therefore supports reflective practice. That's where you benefit from writing the blog. Then, the rest of the community of teachers benefited from the insights and thoughts of the other teachers. Then, and here's where it gets interesting, because the blogs are shared, there is further benefit to the blogger, from the critical insight of others shared through comments. Further still, this process helps people to feel more 'connected' with each other (in the human rather than technical sense), facilitating further discussion and relationship building.
Imagine how powerful a tool that could be - a community of professionals sharing in a reflective process, sharing each other's lessons and insights, challenging and supporting each other.
Wouldn't that be great? Well, the good news that the potential is right here at your fingertips. All you need to do is exploit it. You don't need to write a thesis. A good blog can be a few sentences long.
What's stopping you?
Time? Dedicating a little time each week to sharing your thoughts with the community might even save you time through the connections you make...
Confidence? In most online communities you can get help. Start now and you'll get the hang of it - whether "it" is using the technology or finding the words...
Anxiety? Of course you might feel nervous about opening up. But you are in control of what you share...
I don't know anything special? I'm sure that every professional, whether seasoned or in training, has something of value to their professional community.
Isn't it about time you started to share?
