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Winning Tactics For HOW TO SUCCEED IN YOUR CAREER; NETWORKING TIPS AND TRICKS

associations blog fitness industry lindsey rainwater networking organizations the women in fitness association tips wifa women women in fitness women in fitness association women leaders womeninfitnessassociation May 07, 2019

Depending on where you are on your career path, there can be many points where you feel stuck or that you are not getting the support you need. Sometimes this can happen as you're transitioning to a new company, maybe worked for the same company for 10 years, but are in a new role, or starting down a completely new path you've never been down before. So where do you turn, who is actually there to support you? How can you get sound advice and also meet the right people at the right time to help you succeed.

It is certainly not a cake walk, navigating the different methods for building relationships and having a strong network of people around you is a skill all in itself. It is a topic that is near and dear to Lindsey Rainwater, the founder of  WIFA’s heart, she was recently interviewed about this topic and she shares about why it’s so important to get involved with associations and networking practices.

 So why does it matter? Why does having an affiliation with an associates forward your career? Why can’t you just rely on LinkedIn and who you currently know?

Well, one of the key reasons to join a group is that it gets everyone to the same party! Take WIFA for instance, if you join WIFA you are publicly agreeing that you want to champion women to succeed in their careers. If you join the The Association of Fitness Studios, it is safe to assume you are committed to the studio market and collaborating with other studios. It gets like minded individuals together and breaks down barriers. Being affiliated with these groups makes it easier to collaborate within because everyone is coming from the same agreed upon context.

We have all heard and said the old saying “it’s not what you know, it's who you know”, it is usually both. Knowing who to talk to, to leapfrog key career obstacles is always best practice. People that are committed to their own career trajectory and are accomplishing at  great lengths are usually very mindful of their networks and therefore, typically seek out associations or masterminds to join. Regardless if it is your first day out of college, you are a group fitness instructor wanting to one day run a club, or a seasoned thirty year veteran, joining a group of like minded professionals is always a good idea.  

In addition to associations, joining local groups or charity organizations that draw professionals is also great practice. When it comes to career development, an important point to realize is that even if you are comfortable and settled into a company you hope to grow with, they are not in charge of your career growth, you are. You are always in charge of your network, your brand and how you’re progressing your career. It is very hard to be as mindful as this when you are only working with internal resources. This is why looking from outside your company and even outside your industry at all points in your career is a very valuable skill to have. 

WIFA does it’s very best to bring it’s members great value not only in career growth but also your personal growth. We provide monthly webinars on professional development topics, quarterly mentorship, blog inclusion to get personal content distributed, affiliate discount opportunities, live educational forums, and endless networking.

No matter where you are at in your career, look for outside resources. Find the associations and different organizations that are doing what matters to you. Get involved and expand your career to be what you are proud of. There is never a wrong time when it comes to building yourself up and nurturing your professional path. Luckily, there are many opportunities and groups out there excited to welcome you into their network and support your goals. Challenge yourself to have at least one activity on your calendar per week that contributes to growing your network.  A phone call with a new contact, a mentor, or webinar. Remember, you are the most important stakeholders in your career future, nurture your future by seeding your soil today!