Networking and Collabration #viralvideo #networking #trending #viralshort #trend #study #proudtobeme

0:03 Good morning, evening, afternoon, wherever you may be. So, it's amazing to be back here again on our evolve project and welcome to everybody. So, today we're looking at networking and collaboration. You know, um at the end of the day, if you're in business, if you're in a career, we all need people, right? So I think it's really important that we understand the importance of networking and collaboration. So um what will we be learning today? So today we'll be looking at the following. Understanding the importance of networking, learning how effective networking can open up opportunities for personal and professional growth and contribute to

0:49 building valuable relationships in business. At the end of the day, it's people that make the world go round. At the end of the day, it's people you will hire, people you will interview, it's people who will connect you. So, we cannot underestimate the importance of people. And then we will be looking at developing developing collaborative skills, you know, gaining the ability to work effectively with others, learning how to share knowledge and contribute to team efforts to achieve common goals in the collaborative environment. giving you an example if you're a CEO or an MD of an entrepreneurship organization you know or even if it's you know whatever form of organization for example you might not be great at the numbers so you need to hire a good accountant or a good

1:35 finance manager that's what it's all about then number three we identify key networking strategies we need to be exploring strategies for building and maintaining a professional network including online platforms events and face-to-face interactions, you know, like LinkedIn is a fabulous networking tool for people within the career and entrepreneurship space. And then number four, we have applying collaborative techniques in teams. Understanding how to leverage different collaboration tools and techniques to improve teamwork, productivity, and communication with within groups. Team T. Everybody achieves more. Teamwork

2:20 makes the dream work, as they say. And then fifth, navigating professional relationships. Learn how to establish trust, build allies, manage conflict, and foster long-term, mutually beneficial professional relationships. Number five is really important because we need to work on ourselves. Do you understand? You know, when I talk about networking, I always tell people that sometimes you must not even go for a networking event with somebody else because you will stick to that person. If you go by yourself, you'll be forced, you know, to make friends or forced to make new contacts. And when you go to network, always remember it's about how can I serve you? Don't always be what can you what can they do for me? What

3:06 can they do? People get hungry people and and being hungry is not attractive. Always think about mutual collaboration, mutual benefits. Okay. So let's look at our introduction to networking and collaboration. So the number one thing that we'll be looking at is networking refers to the pro what it's all about. So networking refers to the process of establishing and nurturing relationships with other professionals, industry peers, mentors and potential collaborators. Listen, I love what Nigeria is doing now. You had last week Sunday I went to Niger Brand Chick um in London. They've been able to build they're in different nations. They were in London last week. That's about

3:53 networking and collaborating. Then I was at the fashion souk. Then um Bella Niger had another event. People are coming to London. People and then Fidelity Bank are doing a big thing in America. This is what networking is all about. You know, coming out of your comfort zone. So networking refers to the process of establishing and nurturing relationships with other professional industry peers, mentors, and potential collaborators. Listen, we you don't know it all. Nobody knows it all. But when you network, when you collaborate, what your what what A doesn't know, B knows. So you collaborate together and you become stronger. So networking helps individuals and businesses gain new opportunities, share knowledge, and support one another's growth. You know,

4:40 people often say, if you want to go far, go with somebody else. And that's true. So effective networking can be done online and offline. when you have like Zoom, if you have a networking event, people go into breakout rooms as an example. Same thing with Microsoft Teams. And so you can network virtually and in person through social media platforms, conferences, seminars, or even casual meetups. But I think if I'm honest with you, networking in person is always better. Now, what are the key aspects of networking? So the key the key aspects of of networking are as follows. building relationships. Networking focuses on creating genuine

5:25 connections rather than just transactional interactions. People see through you. People know if you're authentic or not. So, it's really, really important to learn that. Then we look at access to opportunities. A strong network provides access to job opportunities, business partnerships, or advice from experienced professionals. You know, um, everybody needs a mentor. I don't, you know, I don't I don't really want to know how clever you may think you may be. You might have 10 PhDs. You still need people in your life. So key aspects of networking include knowledge exchange. Networking allows for sharing of ideas, best

6:11 practices and new industry trends. It also allows for mutual support. Networking you know helps individuals by offering guidance, emotional support etc etc. So very very very important. Then collaboration, what's that all about? So collaboration involves working together with others. Yeah. Al allyship, pulling your resources, combining your skills. Like I said, if you set up a new business, you're not good at publicity and and advertising. Get somebody who is. You're not great at finances. Get somebody is. So collaboration involves working together with others, pulling resources and combining skills to achieve a shared

6:58 goal. So in business, collaboration can occur within teams, across departments or between external business partners, your stakeholders. It's a key driver of innovation, productivity, and problem solving. So the key aspects of collaboration are as follows. Teamwork. Effective collaboration often requires people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise allowing them to work together and share responsibility for success. Remember what I said earlier, teamwork makes the dream work. And then we've got communication. Clear, concise, consistent communication is crucial for successful collaboration. As people, we get easily offended. So, let me give you an example. Sometimes you might send an

7:44 email. Read through the email. You know, you might send an email when you're upset. You might send a text or WhatsApp when you're excess upset. Is it the best time to send it? Because the way you feel may come across in that message. So clear and consistent communication is crucial for successful collaboration. Sometimes it's easier just to pick up the phone, pick up the phone and have a conversation so that lines are not crossed. So collaborate collaboration encourages diverse perspectives which can lead to innovative solutions to complex problems like brainstorming like asking what do you think what do you think we should do you know sending the proposal to the team have I left anything out what do you think etc. So

8:34 shared success is all about collaborative efforts often resulting in shared rewards where the success of the collaboration benefits all parties involved. So in collaboration you've got to ensure that your stakeholders are represented and they are represented in the right light. Okay. So, we're still looking at an introduction to networking and collaboration. And we must realize that they are con conjoined. They're closely linked. Networking enables collaboration. You go for a networking event, you meet somebody, and you say, "Oh, I've got this project. I've got this idea. How can we work together?" So, by building a network, you create

9:19 opportunities for future collaboration with individuals who bring diverse skills and knowledge to the table. I don't know if you've ever heard this term that your network determines your net worth. Okay, great. So, collaboration strengthens networks. Successful collaborations can lead to stronger, more trustworthy professional relationships, further expanding your network. So, how do you effectively network? A couple of years ago, I I wrote a course, the A to Zed of networking. And if I need to share it, I will do that. So, how to effectively network? Why are you going for that networking event for? Remember what I

10:05 said? Don't let it all be about you. People know if you're not authentic. People know if it's all about you. No, it's a two-way process. You are the bridge. The other person is the bridge. Two-way process. So, be clear about your goals. Identify what you hope to achieve from networking. Whether it's finding business part partners, getting career advice, or learning new skills, focus on building genuine relationships rather than just collecting contacts. Listen, some of my closest friends I've met from networking events. One in the UK, one in South Africa, and they my closest friends today. I met them at conferences. Engage actively. Don't go to a networking event and just stand in the corner. Be bold. Hey, my name is

10:52 Lola. Oh, you know, I don't really like using the term, what do you do? You can actually ask what line of business in are you in? Oh, why did you come here today? Attend networking events with boldness. Don't be fearful. Attend those conferences, those webinars and meetups. Attend. You You can't network if you're going to sit down in your house. You understand? Get out there. Everybody repeat after me. Get yourself out there. Be seen and be heard. and be a pro, like I said, be proactive in initiating conversation. Hey, my name is Lola, which is my name is. My name is Lola. You know, I'm in I'm in, you know, I'm in the social enterprise space. I'm in the fashion space. Hey, what line of work are you in? Show genuine interest. People love to talk about themselves.

11:37 Listen, make good eye contact. You understand? Don't be speaking to somebody and you're you're looking to the left, you're looking to the north, south, east, and west. stare into their eyes, you know, not in an intimidating way, but look, be genuinely concerned and be genuinely interested because people tell when you're fake, when you're not really there. So, be proactive and ask question. Oh, how long have you been doing that? How long have you been lecturing? Oh, how long have you worked at that university? Listen actively. Active listening is one of the biggest, greatest skills you will ever have in communication, let me tell you. Because we all don't know how to actively listen. Listen with your heart. Listen with your emotion. Listen with your intellect. Listen with your psychology. Listen with every single

12:24 thing that you have. Because let's be honest, people can talk to you, but it can go over your head. You could be thinking about your jolaf rice. You could be thinking about your burger. You could be thinking about different things. But when you listen actively, your spirit, your soul, your body are in the room. And it's an important skill to teach the students. I teach, you know, as you know, I'm teaching, I lecture. It's one of the greatest skills I tell my students. And it's the hardest thing that they're learning. It's hard to listen actively and attentively. We have two ears and only one mouth. And we should use them appropriately. And then learn from other people experiencing is in in the networking game. So leverage

13:11 social media. You know, use platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, professional forums to connect with people in your industry. Share your don't be selfish with what you've got. Look at me. I'm here today. I'm loving what I'm doing. Share your expertise. Be a blessing. That's, you know, that's the thing about networking. It's not just about what's in it for me. It's about how can I serve humanity also. Share your expertise. comment on people's post. You know, engage in meaningful, authentic conversation to build your online presence. Then follow up and what's the point in you going to a networking meeting, you've collected 1000 cards and then you just go home and put them in your

13:57 drawer. No, use them. Say, send a message. Hey, Stanley. Hey, Priscilla. It was so lovely meeting you at that networking event. I wonder if we could have a meeting. I wonder if we could have a call. I wonder if we can meet up for coffee. Strike while the iron is still hot. Don't go for the network meeting in August and follow up in December. People will forget who you are. So send follow-up messages to solidify the connection. It could be a thank you email or it could be sharing relevant information. And another thing is maintain those relationships. Check in once in a while per periodically by sharing resources that may be useful to your connections. I met a young girl at um a United Nations for women event and I've been seeing some jobs applications

14:42 and I send them to her on LinkedIn and she's so grateful. So offer value. Don't let it all be about you. Networking is a mutual benefit. You're both the bridge to greater breakthrough. So always think about how can I provide value to others whether it's through advice, resources, introductions or mentoring. Hey, I just know the person who would be great to help you. That's what you do. Don't let it be all about you. Good. So, let's look at how to effectively collaborate. Number one, establish clear goals and roles. Before beginning any collaborative effort, do your due diligence for a start. Who is this person you want to collaborate? Have you done your due diligence? Have

15:29 you got your memorandums of understanding, your non-disclosures as an example? Ensure all parties understand the shared objectives. Think about your reputation. Think about all those things. Don't collaborate with somebody who is fraudulent. So be careful. Define then when as you have done all your due diligence and you are starting define roles and responsibilities to clearly to clearly to avoid confusion and ensure accountability. Then again encourage open communication. If you're not happy about something deal with it, talk about it. So foster a collaborative environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions and providing feedbacks. Use

16:14 tools like Slack. In my university, we use Slack, we use Microsoft Teams, use Trello, use whatever to keep everyone aligned and informed. Even simple WhatsApp is a good tool. WhatsApp groups, etc., etc. Then leverage everybody's strengths. Remember what I said to you earlier, you may not be good at finance, get someone who's good at finance. You might not be good at PR, get somebody who's good at PR. You might not be good at publicity and marketing, get someone who's good at this. So collaborative collaboration brings different skills and expertise to the table. Identify and utilize each person's strengths to contribute to the project's success. And be open to learning. I keep on saying this. Listen, every year I know you you know students you should be learning. Even if you're

16:59 doing a PhD, even if you're doing a master's or a degree, do a short Microsoft course, a Google course. Every year add to your knowledge bank. The brain is ready. It needs to be stretched just as we eat. The more we eat, the more our stomach stretches. But the thing with our brains is that the brain will never burst from too much information. So be open to learning from others. The key is be humble. You don't know everything. I'm telling you, you don't know everything. You might know all about mathematics. You might know all about psychology, but you might not know about catering. You might not even know how to cook a a pot of stew. Let's be honest. So be open to learning from others. And the key to that is be humble. Consider the fact that we are

17:44 all different. We all have different learning styles. Some of us are kinesthetic. Some of us are um are auditory. Some of us are visual. We have different learning styles also. The different ways that the brain rather not different learning styles that's one. But we also have different ways the brain takes in information. Some of us are theoretical. Some of us are pragmatic. Some of us the way we process information is so different. The way we think is different. So be open to learning from others. Consider diverse perspectives to solve problems creatively. Let me tell you the greatest barrier to man learning is the I know it all attitude. It's a big barrier. You understand? So be humble. I have a son. Yeah. I call my son my special advisor.

18:32 I go to my son. He's my son. I'm his mom. But I go to him for advice and his perspective on things because on on politics and history and because that's his specialty. Do you understand? I don't know it all. Even my students can teach me as a coach as a lecturer. I can learn from my students as much as they can learn from me. So effective collaboration at the key is humility. Be humble enough to learn. One of my favorite books says, "Pride goeth before destruction." So, how to effectively collaborate consistently? Be consistent. Be flexible and adaptable. Sometimes things don't go to plan. You understand? You know, you

19:18 you need to have your risk management. Be prepared to adapt and change things up, switch things up, make adjustments when challenges arise or when new opportunities present themselves. You might have been working with somebody and the person might not even be answering your call. That doesn't mean you should abandon the plan, next step, next stage, next thing. That's it. So, set clear expectations and deadlines. Agree on deadlines. Agree on milestones and key deliverables from the start and ensure they are realistic and achievable and do regular check-ins on progress to make sure things are on track. And then again, celebrate successes together. Acknowledge and celebrate small wins throughout the collaboration, recognizing everybody's

20:06 achievements that it all fosters motivation and it strengthens relationships. So after completing the collaboration, reflect on what worked well and areas for improvement for future projects. So what are the tips for effective networking and collaboration? Like I said, be authentic. People can tell if you are fake. People will tell if it's all about you. Be authentic. Whether networking or collaborating, authenticity is important. People really appreciate it when you truly are sincere and genuine connections are more valuable. Like I said, active listening is powerful. Listen with your heart,

20:52 with your soul, with your body, with all your emotions so that you can really hear what they are saying, the other party is saying, and what they're not saying. Because sometimes we speak, but our mouths are closed. We speak through our emotion. We speak through our body language. Be attentive. And then again, be patient and consistent. Building a strong network and effective collaboration. It takes time. Build. Be patient. Don't blow it because you're impatient. You need to be clear, consistent. Keep knocking on that door. Eventually, it will be open. Be patient and persistent in your approach. So, how to effectively collaborate?

21:37 There's um a couple of things that you can investigate to research. The power of meaningful networking by Andrew Griffin's networking doesn't have to feel gross and six ways to make better connections online. You can um look at those books. So, I would also ask that start now. Do you understand? Make an effort to attend a networking event every month if you can. There are free events, there are paid events. You do what you know suits your pocket. But if you want to grow your network, you've got to get out there. Right. So, our closing task, reflecting on your networking and collaborative experience, think about a time when you

22:23 successfullyworked or collaborated with others in a professional or personal contact. what worked, what worked, what worked well, what didn't work well, and what challenges did you face? And then reflect on the key skills or strategies that helped you succeed. And look at any areas where you could improve in the future. Don't forget, follow us proud to be me on our social media. And it's been an amazing time once again to share with you the importance and the power of networking and collaboration. And as I said, if you want to go far, go with others. God bless you once again. Have a beautiful weekend, Coach Lola. Take care, everybody.