Grow your network: from the perfect pitch to lasting relations

Cluster

Leadership & Efficiency

Target group

Members of the Doctoral Schools

Teacher

Robin Lefebvre, Grow2Excel

Topic

Why are introverts better at building lasting networks? Why is faking it a bad strategy? What do extraverts have to learn to grow better relationships? In this workshop we will learn how to captivate our audience, by deconstructing the perfect pitch, making a great first impression and how to build lasting relations. Change the networking game from the superficial business card exchange market to growing professional (and personal) relationships that will help you throughout your future career.

In this workshop you will learn how to structure a perfect pitch that can capture your target audience and go from a presentation to a conversation … and perhaps an invitation. You’ll put the theory in practice and get feedback on your efforts. We will cover different types of pitches and where what is best used. We will talk about how you can make it ‘natural’ so you will actually use your pitch.

Furthermore we will learn networking strategies that you can personalize to meet your personal style and connect with people you actually like. You will learn how you can leverage LinkedIn to maintain and expand your network with purpose. How to start conversations that build real connections. During the workshop we will put all the elements together into a plan that you can use to become a better networker, both as an introvert or an extravert.

Objectives

1. Learn the different parts of a perfect pitch.
2. Learn how to give a clear and convincing 1-min presentation that captures the attention of your target audience.
3. Learn how to make a pitch, so that you will actually pitch-it.
4. How to grow your Network with purpose?
5. How to make first contact in a comfortable and enjoyable way?

Training methods

The training leverages a number of theoretical models, that are extracted from authors (like Heath, Pink, Steel, Van Edwards, …), publication (Caers, Sabatier, Van Hoye, …) and video clips (Graham, Veight, Vanessa Van, …) to give you both the theory, the live demonstrations to enable you to start practicing the techniques during the training. Allowing to learn from each-other and get constructive feedback on how to improve. If you are hoping for a sit back and enjoy the show presentation, this training is not for you. This training is learning by doing, we will create a safe learning environment where you need to step up and practice, so that we can all learn.

Training pre-work

Before the training the participant will be asked to share their learning objectives for the training and complete an online assessment to build their personal brand.

1. A personal branding exercise, this is to bring all participants on the same level, for those who have followed the identity training this will be a simple summary, for those who did not this will enable them to start with asking the right questions; key questions are: what is your objective? What are the things you value? What are your strengths and skills? 
2. What are the key things you hope to learn during this training?

Time schedule

Registration fee

Free of charge for Doctoral School members. The no show policy applies.

Registration

• First semester: follow this link to subscribe to the registration or waiting list.
• Second semester: follow this link to subscribe to the registration or waiting list.

Your registration will be confirmed by separate e-mail from the Doctoral Schools. Cancellation of your registration can only be performed by sending an email to doctoralschools@ugent.be.

Teaching and learning material

PDF, training booklet, Training Action Plan, pitching canvas, online questionnaire to build your personal brand (pre-work), training summary.

Number of participants

Maximum 12

Language

English

Evaluation methods and criteria (doctoral training programme)

Non-periodic continuous assessment; 100% participation

After successful participation, the Doctoral Schools will add this course to your curriculum of the Doctoral Training Programme in Oasis. Please note that this takes up to one to two months after completion of the course.