Keeping a Networking Journal
by Shayne Webber, Ph.D. on 07/29/10
If you spend a fair amount of time networking, you will likely find it helpful to keep a journal of contacts and information. I have generally been proficient at organizing and maintaining business cards, but sometimes when going through my cards I could hardly remember meeting the person.
To address this issue, I now keep a Networking Journal. I place the name and contact information in the top left corner and then make notes regarding where we met and what we discussed. This does take time and some commitment to detail, but I have found that it pays dividends to remember small details regarding prior converstions.
On the flip side, what is it like for someone to remember a great deal about you and you not remmeber them at all? This can be uncomfortable, and place you in an akward position. However, if you review your notes often you will remember a great deal about professionals you have met, which will often create more amiable feelings toward you.
Keep your journal handy all the time and complete it soon after introductions and update after subsequent meetings. You will be surprised how much information you will gather and useful your Networking Journal will become.
