Biology Reference
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others and demonstrate your concern and value for them as a team member. This
is vitally important because in healthy work environments people are not pro-
moted simply because they work hard, but because the decision makers know
the person's character and have a confidence in his/her ability do the job and
promote collegial working relationships.
Electronic networking through social networking, blogs, and other commu-
nity interaction sites has given a new level of possibility to networking. The
activities available online to promote networking and professional develop-
ment include being part of an online community, continuing your education or
obtaining a certification, attending a conference remotely, taking part in a tuto-
rial, starting a blog, and countless other opportunities.
One of the most powerful networking experiences I've ever had was when I
attended the Women's International Research in Engineering Summit (WIRES),
a National Science Foundation funded international workshop in Barcelona,
Spain, in 2009. WIRES is the bi-annual, international summit for women who
are interested in pursuing international collaborative researching opportuni-
ties. The main objective of this summit is to enable meaningful and sustain-
able research exchanges between female engineers from around the world while
identifying issues faced by females pursuing careers in engineering that could
benefit from a global strategy. My participation in this meeting was very focused
as I had the specific goal of establishing international collaborations. Prior to
going to the meeting I did my homework on the participants and was very clear
about the type of strategic partners I would be seeking. Immediately upon arriv-
ing at this well-planned and efficiently organized event, I went to work on my
plan to establish the needed research collaborations. As a result of the four days
spent at this meeting I established two research collaborations that resulted in
substantive outcomes including appointment to an international research com-
mittee, a funded National Science Foundation grant, a Guest Editor invitation
for an international journal, and, within a period of four years, acceptance as a
Fulbright Specialist/Scholar. The relationships I established at this meeting are
still active and continue to add value to my research career.
Although you may not have access to an event such as WIRES, you do have
an option to develop your own networking resources, skills, and relationships to
support your leadership and career ambitions. Many of us shy away from net-
working because we feel that it is wrong or dishonest to get to know people so
that the relationship can be used later. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Networking is not about using people. It is about creating a chain of people who
can help each other in achieving common goals that benefit us all.
Taking Things Personally
Leaders are “vision” focused on the associated mission and individual goals.
Although leaders must be passionate about the vision, it is necessary for them
to separate the vision from themselves. This is valuable in communicating
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