BUILDING A REPUTATION AND TRUST
Building a reputation and trust within such a culture can indeed be challenging. It requires putting in the same amount of energy, effort, and time to establish your reputation and gain trust, especially in today’s interconnected world through social media. Consistency and a proactive nature are key factors in building a reputation and trust.
To build a network of dynamic, reliable, and participatory individuals, I have actively sought out various networking events. As an introvert, it has been quite challenging for me to take a proactive approach to signing up for events. However, during my academic years at the University of Victoria, I had the opportunity to attend many mandatory networking sessions. I made the most of those sessions by sitting next to professionals, connecting with them, and gaining valuable insights into their passionate fields. I always follow up with LinkedIn requests and send personal note, emphasizing my appreciation and eagerness to connect.
Apart from networking events, I have been making efforts to be more active on LinkedIn. I follow numerous professionals in my industry of interest and consistently read and like their posts. Although I haven’t mustered the courage to comment on their posts yet, I am actively working on building that confidence and enhancing my online presence. I have professionally designed my LinkedIn profile to boost my credibility and trust, aiming to attract like-minded professionals in my industry. It seems to work, as I have received more views and follow requests.
In the article “Building your own PLN: seeking new insights and ideas? Expand your personal learning network,” Bianca Woods emphasizes the significance of seeking insights and ideas beyond our own learning and development (Woods, 2013). It is indeed true that there is much to learn from individuals outside our field. While most people within our PLN may be from similar industries due to shared work or interests, it does not necessarily mean we all have the same thoughts, perspectives, or approaches.
As a student and professional in the business and hospitality industry, a majority of the individuals in my PLN work in hotels and accounting firms or attend the University of Victoria. However, it is crucial to recognize that working in the same field does not guarantee identical viewpoints. In my current job, I proactively schedule meetings with employees from various departments to foster collaboration and exchange ideas for my projects. Despite their diverse areas of expertise, their inputs and ideas open up fresh perspectives I may have never considered. It is always important to open up to a broader range of insights and ideas that can further enhance healthy relationships for growth.
CREATING A PLN PRIOR TO ENGAGING IN A SOCIAL MEDIA
In the Podcast interviewing Sophie Lui, she shared her experiences with getting a job back in the day and building her own learning network. She explained that she used to cold call, actively join networking events and conferences, and use physical phone books to build her PLN and engage in her areas of interest (MILLER, 2022).
Similar to Sophie’s experience, if I were to create a PLN before embarking on a social media campaign to raise awareness of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), I would follow a multi-step approach.
Firstly, I would reach out to my friends and family to identify their interests or inquire if they know anyone who might be interested in supporting this campaign. I believe that building a PLN begins with leveraging connections from your immediate circles, such as friends, family, and relatives.
Next, I would actively seek out EDI advocates within my community, enabling me to connect with like-minded individuals and engage in knowledge sharing, discussions, and collaborative planning to ensure a successful campaign launch.
Lastly, as a small community group, we would proactively search for larger groups, clubs, or communities to join, allowing us to amplify our voices and expand our presence.
References
MILLER. (2022, June 6). Sophie Lui – EDCI 338 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfcXgKLzOVM
Woods, B. (2013, November). Building your own PLN: seeking new insights and ideas? Expand your personal learning network. T+D, 67(11), 70+. https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/apps/doc/A348998538/ITBC?u=uvictoria&sid=summon&xid=1010abdf
Leave a Reply