Networking 101 - Acknowlege People's Contribution

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 78

Acknowlege People’s Contribution

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

Dr. Renate Volpe, in her nugget cards entitled “Networking Tips” says:

“Always remember, to acknowledge peoples’ contributions, thank them, compliment them sincerely, and return favours where possible.”

Isn’t this just common courtesy?  Think about it for a moment – here I use Dr Renate Volpe’s nugget cards on a regular basis as a theme on whatever it is that I am writing.  How pleased do you think she would be if I had not asked permission?  How pleased do you think she would be if I did not give her the credit for the ‘tip’ that she has written?  How pleased do you think she would be if I didn’t acknowledge that it is her writing and therefore her IP (intellectual property)?

Quite frankly, I don’t think she would be very pleased with me at all.  In fact for the record, whenever I use one of Renate’s nuggets, I mail her a copy of what I have written, because without her nugget, her ‘tip’ or her statement, I would not have had anything to write about.

Now, ask yourself this question, how would you feel if someone consistently took your contributions, your writings and muses and used them to promote whatever it was that they were doing, without asking your permission to do so, or without even giving you the credit of having contributed it in the first place.  I am sure you would not be very happy about it at all.

So make sure that whenever you use something of someone else’s, where possible ask permission first.  Make sure that you thank them and give them credit for their good work.  Let’s face it, if the work wasn’t good you would not be using it in the first place! Always, always reciprocate if you can.

Just treat them and their work, the way that you would want to be treated.

For more information on Renate, please visit her website at http://www.drrenatevolpe.co.za

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za