Lynn Berger On The Importance Of Professional Business Networks
An Interview with Vanessa Ogle
Ask for advice and suggestions from colleagues and your business networks as situations arise in your work. Social support reduces stress and many people in your business networks like to be consulted and feel respected and appreciated. The conversations you have can be rich and meaningful.
In today’s fast-paced business world, professional networks are more than just a pathway to opportunities; they are crucial for growth, learning, and innovation. Whether it’s finding mentors, navigating career changes, or driving business success, the right network can be a game changer. How significant are these networks, and how can professionals best leverage them? I had the pleasure of interviewing Lynn Berger.
Lynn Berger is a Career Counselor and Coach specializing in helping people make the most of their lives and feel fulfilled. In her position she counsels people how to effectively transition to jobs and/or careers, balance their roles and responsibilities and understand the choices before them. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Career Counselor and Coach she works with her clients to enhance their fulfillment and happiness by focusing on their priorities in life.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
Like many things in life my career progression was a process that evolved based upon my interests and experiences. After college I worked in business and then came to realize that I wanted to work more directly with people and their relationship with work. I received a Masters degree in Organizational Psychology and worked in Human Resources and Consulting and found that more satisfying; yet, I then realized I wanted to work one on one with individuals and received a Masters degree in Psychological Counseling.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Early on in my career (late 90’s) I was offered the opportunity to launch a website. At that point in time there were very few career professionals with a web presence. I distinctly remember early on how my on-line presence enhanced my professional life. It was very exciting to have the opportunity to meet with people all over the world and have access to experiences and people I would never have come in contact with. My professional practice exploded. It was life changing. There was tremendous value to be one of the first to utilize technology to build my practice.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Making sure I write everyone’s first and last name in my calendar. I was pleasantly surprised when someone showed up for an appointment and I I thought it was someone else.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
When I started my business and continuously throughout my career I have become involved in many professional organizations. During each of those experiences I have identified someone that can guide and mentor me. Many times this was not a formal mentorship; however. I have a great appreciation for learning from others that have more experience than I and ask them for guidance and support.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
Learned Optimism By Martin Seligman, It inspired me to think differently about myself and my ability to adjust my thinking in certain situations. In the book he demonstrates how optimism enhances the quality of life and how anyone can learn to practice it. He also differentiates between hope and optimism. Hope is my favorite word. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen. Maintaining a hopeful attitude is crucial to our lives-especially in times of stress, change and turbulence. It is my daughter’s middle name.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
I hope so. I work towards enabling others to make the most of their lives by allowing them to identify careers that will blend the best parts of themselves including their interests, motivated skills, values and personality style.
What strategies do you recommend for building and maintaining strong professional business networks?
I work with my clients to spend time learning effective individualized practical ways that work for them to broaden their network. Also we work together to help them gain the confidence to build their professional networks. Every person has a different comfort level with networking and I recommend the strategies based upon their state of ease and then challenging them a bit. For example, if a client worked in a sales capacity they might be more familiar with the concept that you need to cast a wide net to get results. For others you might need to start more slowly.
Can you share a personal story about how a professional business network has significantly impacted your career or business?
Yes. I went to a networking meeting with colleagues and met a woman who had a public television show that interviewed coaches. She interviewed me a couple of times and I was inspired to start my own show. I am currently hosting a show on public access television titled. “Lynn Berger Interviews Remarkable People.” The show inspires others since it features individuals that created extraordinary careers and highlights their background, motivation and success.
In your experience, what are the common misconceptions about networking, and how can professionals overcome them?
A common misconception is that you have to network in only one way. There are many ways to expand one’s network including in-person, on-line, through a class or organized activity, referral or formal organization.
Can you please share your “5 Ways to Make the Most of a Professional Business Network”?
1)Stay connected. By that I mean put some time in your calendar to reach out on a fairly regular basis to those in your professional network that you value and admire. As our lives get busy this can be difficult: yet, it is very important to remember to maintain these relationships. If one’s time is very limited, even a yearly holiday card allows you to stay in touch. People appreciate that you remember and include them. Every year I am surprised who reaches back out when I send my yearly holiday card and it truly is a pleasure to hear from them. It takes time and effort to reach out and stay in touch with old colleagues, friends, etc, ; however the rewards are there.
2)Go to professional conferences and meetings. Join professional associations large and small. You can benefit greatly from the connection to learn, present and/or share new ideas, etc. I love attending professional meetings and conferences. Many times opportunities arise that would not have occurred. For example I have felt inspired to write articles about the subject matter at the conference and have had the opportunity to be interviewed in professional journals as a result of people I met at a conference..
3)Ask for advice and suggestions from colleagues and your business networks as situations arise in your work. Social support reduces stress and many people in your business networks like to be consulted and feel respected and appreciated. The conversations you have can be rich and meaningful.
4) A good way to make the most of a professional network is to give and receive referrals. When I can not help a client due to my calendar being full or if I know of someone who specializes in the issue the potential client has I refer them to my colleagues and similarly I receive referrals from them.
5)A powerful way to make the most of your professional network is during Job Search.
Most people appreciate starting with connecting with old friends and colleagues during this time. The conversations you may have can be very helpful. We are all craving connections and reaching out to get in touch with others we might have lost touch with. Letting people know you are in job search might be easier since many people have dealt with work challenges. They might be fearful as to their own job security as well. The conversation can often start with a catch up. Sometimes a lot does need to be said. Moments of silence are appreciated as well as sharing feelings as to how you are coping with the situation. I have seen old and new relationships being established during this time that can last a lifetime, even during a job search..
What role does digital networking play in today’s business environment, and how can individuals maximize its potential while maintaining meaningful connections?
Digital networking plays a powerful role since it allows us to reach out to others all over the globe. Once contact is made it is very beneficial to meet people in person; however, if that is not possible one can establish a meaningful connection .I recommend having a fairly consistent schedule when you meet with your networks via zoom or other means. I am a member of several networking groups that meet virtually on a regular basis and have had the opportunity to build meaningful connections.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Loneliness is an epidemic. Many people feel lost and disconnected :yet, there might be relationships and networks they have lost touch with and/or not recently been involved in. I would like to create a day or hour of the week that everyone would think of one person they lost touch with and reach out. Or perhaps take the time to join a group of similar interests and shared values.. We are all craving connections.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Sheryl Sandberg. She is clearly someone who inspires others to make the most of their business networks. Her book, “Lean In” exemplifies how we as women especially hold back from achieving their full potential and by leaning in we can achieve our full potential.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
-https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnberger/
-https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lynn+berger+interviews
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
