The PR Training Academy hosted a webinar recently at which Kingsley Aikins offered some insights into networking – and what a tour de force that webinar was. It created a great understanding of how everyone needs to develop and use a network to get ahead. Here are some of his key insights:

Capping your career.

“Without a network, your career is capped” said Kingsley as he opened the PR webinar. Why? Because, unless people see you, see how good you are at what you do, comment on that fact to others and promote your ability, you’re going nowhere. Kingsley quoted Harvey Cope and his PIE theory.

P=Performance (contributes 10% to your career progress)

I=Image (and reputation contribute 30%)

E=Exposure (60% of your success is based on others seeing you in action)

Turning contacts into friends.

Success in your career obviously needs you to be qualified, capable and talented, but you also need a network of ‘friends’. Kingsley explained that when you network, you gather people as contacts (the lowest rung of a pyramid). As you develop these contacts, they become connections. As your connections get stronger, you begin to develop relationships and really good relationships will develop into friendships. Those friends are hugely influential in your career and, like all good friends, should be treated with care.

                                             FRIENDS

                                             RELATIONSHIPS

                                             CONNECTIONS

                                             CONTACTS

Affluence & Influence

Finally, Kingsley suggested that we should all review our networks to see if they are future-proofed. Are they good enough for the new post-Covid world? Are there gaps that you need to fill? Your network should be made up of what McKinsey called A&I – affluence and influence.

Kingsley Aikins is chairman of the Networking Institute. He presented a webinar for the PR Training Academy in March 2022.