We Should Teach Our Students to Network

When I talk to business owners regarding their pain points, the conversation often plunges toward the hiring process. “We can’t find good people,” they say before bemoaning all the problems with “this generation.”

As someone with an entrepreneurial mindset, this problem is an opportunity. The opportunity lies in what we can teach our students to help them not only stand out but also excel in the hiring process. The art of the conversation, while essential to most career paths, is largely untaught in modern schooling.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. As part of the entrepreneurship programming here at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, we dive deeply into teaching students how to network and include lessons on shaking hands, making eye contact, asking questions, and genuine listening. We even teach them how to use LinkedIn.

In the end, the biggest value-add comes from a two-fold lesson:

be interesting and be interested.

Be interesting enough for people to want to talk to you and be interested in other people enough to ask curious questions.

We encourage students to focus on the four following questions and to also know their own answers to the questions so they are prepared to make themselves interesting:

• What absolutely fuels you the most right now?
• What is the most important thing I should know about you?
• What is the one book that has influenced you the most?
• What makes you smile when you get out of bed in the morning?

Networking begins with conversations and conversations begin with questions. Let’s give our students the tools in their tool kits to build successful networks and make meaningful connections.

Reach out to connect.

CONNECT WITH ME

Our annual “mix and mingle” for our students to practice the art of networking

Considering bringing entrepreneurship programming to your school?

Want several of your teachers to begin infusing your culture with the entrepreneurial mindset?

Attending the 2024 CHCA Entrepreneurship Symposium March 7-8 is a MUST

Email Stephen.Carter@chca-oh.org to learn more.

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Imagine your culture infused with growth mindset, grit, redefining failure, and opportunity seeking. Imagine your team acting and thinking like entrepreneurs.

Stephen Carter