Develop and use professional networks in the creative industries
Overview
This Standard is about developing professional networks to support your current and future work and personal development.
These networks can include
a wide range of people – including colleagues you work with directly, people
from other organisations and businesses, clients and customers, members of
professional and trade associations and social media contacts
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
1 invest time
in networking activities and build a network of business contacts
2 be prepared to make the first approach when
an opportunity to network arises
3 establish rapport with others quickly and
effectively and make a good first impression
4 make sure you communicate a consistent
message, including your non-verbal signals
5 tell people clearly what you have to offer
and how it is complimentary to their way of working
6 make sure that you make contact effectively
with as many people as possible in any networking situation
7 follow through on commitments to make
further contact or take action
8 recommend other people in your contact
network when you are unable to provide a service or product
9 find ways to keep in regular contact with
new and existing contacts
10 identify business relationships that are not
working as well as they should and try to improve them
11 take into account the differences between
people from different backgrounds in your business relationships
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
1 how to
develop rapport quickly when meeting people and create a good first impression
2 how body language can influence your
communications with others
3 how to listen attentively and paraphrase
to show that you have actively listened
4 how to spot opportunities by listening to
other people and finding possible connections with your own situation
5 how to promote what you do in a way that
will encourage other people to find out more
6 the importance of acting with integrity to
others at all times
7 what you need to do to develop and
maintain respect and trust
8 how important it is to recognise and
respect appropriate boundaries in your relationships with others
9 how you benefit by introducing and
referring your business contacts to others when the opportunity arises
10 how to maintain networking relationships
11 the benefits and disadvantages of the formal
network groups available
12 how to recognise, learn about and respect
the differences between people from different cultures or backgrounds
13 what influences people to behave in
certain ways