Years ago, if you would have asked me about professional networking, I would have explained that it is beneficial to college graduates and young professionals seeking employment. I viewed professional networking as a way to get to know people because I often heard the statement, 鈥淚t鈥檚 about who you know,鈥� when discussing career development strategies and opportunities.
However, my perception of professional networking changed when I became familiar with professional learning networks (PLNs). Upon researching PLNs, I concluded that professional networking wasn鈥檛 just about getting to know other professionals. It offers a bridgeway to continued learning, mentorship and subject matter expertise.
PLNs: Definition and Origins
Professional learning networks, also referred to as professional learning communities, is a concept defined by 鈥渁s any group who engage in collaborative learning with others outside of their everyday community of practice.鈥�
Originating in education, PLNs are commonly used by educators as a form of professional development. A quick search will reveal numerous articles and websites discussing how to develop professional learning networks, but most of this advice is still rooted and aimed toward helping educators achieve professional growth.
The Benefits of PLNs
The highlighted four benefits for being a member of a professional learning network, which I鈥檝e summarized below:
- Improve job skills and performance: PLNs allow professionals to share best practices, ask for group member feedback and share their successes, which can lead to improved job skills and performance.
- Build relationships: PLNs are a way to build professional relationships and develop a community of learners, which in turn creates a professional support network for group members.
- Learn about technology and tools: PLNs provide a platform for creating awareness about technology and tools used by group members. Group members can gain insights on what works and what is challenging, which can lead to learning and support from others.
- Encourage professional reflection: PLNs are a place for professionals to talk about the ins and outs of their jobs with other people who understand it. Candid discussions can be more important than group members even realize, as they can help identify areas of opportunity, reveal new perspectives and even spark members鈥� personal growth.
Educators often are involved with PLNs for an extended period and groups are commonly developed based on subject matter expertise. For example, a group of math educators might form a PLN to share best practices for teaching math and challenges they are experiencing in the classroom. Additionally, PLNs might include , such as youth or health services.
PLNs Across Different Industries
I encourage the use of PLNs across industry professionals, with a bit of adjustment from the typical approach. Professionals working outside of the educator sector can also benefit from PLNs and can develop PLNs through professional networking.
Take professionals who work in sustainability-related careers. Sustainability professionals work across career sectors. Car builders, cleaning products, food and home product companies, among numerous others, often promote their sustainability efforts. The core of sustainability refers to how a company鈥檚 practices and production impact the environment.
However, sustainability is a broad topic which involves infinite subtopics, as illustrated by the . Therefore, sustainability professionals can have varying subject matter expertise. One might be an expert in sustainable business development, whereas another could be an expert in water resources management. Someone who studied sustainability in a college art program might have a different perspective of sustainability than someone who studied it in an engineering program.
PLNs offer a free and accessible way for sustainability professionals to share knowledge, learn from others鈥� experiences and build community, which I argue is needed when addressing complex sustainability work.
How to Create PLNs Outside of Education
How do professionals create PLNs when they don鈥檛 work in the same industry? Educators often engage in PLNs with others from their institution, district, state or region. Professionals in other sectors might not have the same structural makeup as the education sector and finding time to engage with PLNs can become challenging for anyone. Strategic online networking using the internet and social media can help professionals connect who might not have originally had the chance to meet.
Research and Connect With Possible Peers
The internet is a fabulous tool to learn about organizations and the people who make them a success. Research top businesses, nonprofits and public sector organizations to identify the professionals who work in your sector. Then, don鈥檛 be afraid to reach out!
I鈥檝e used this 鈥渃old call鈥� method to connect with other professionals. While it doesn鈥檛 guarantee a response, I have succeeded in asking a professional in my field to meet via Zoom for a brief 15-minute introduction and chat. There doesn鈥檛 need to be a long pre-planned agenda. Instead, I approach these conversations as casual and informal. The goal is to build a connection with someone else in the same field and possibly learn if there are similar interests.
Use Social Media
Another approach, which is also common within educator sector PLNs, is the use of social media. If someone uses social media, they can create an account specific to their profession, dedicated to discussing topics and trends within their industry. They can use that account for online networking and follow other professionals in their field. Using social media to develop PLNs creates a subject-focused platform where a person can learn and share information and ideas. Social media PLNs are a great way to connect with professionals around the globe, which inspires diverse learning.
Embrace an Informal Structure
Keep in mind that PLNs for non-educators might be more fluid and less structured than education sector PLNs. Educator PLNs often set goals as a group. However, a PLN does not have to be a formal group. If someone creates a PLN through social media, the people or organizations followed do not need to be aware they are being followed. This is what I call a one-way PLN, as only one-way communication is applied: The professional who is doing the following is obtaining information, but they might not interact with others online nor share information online.
Likewise, PLNs where the professional knows others might not officially state that someone is in their PLN, but instead, they have built a professional relationship that allows for two-way communication randomly, with no set guidelines or expectations.
Engage With a Group
You can also create a more traditional PLN, where group members agree to engage and share ideas. The traditional PLN approach is intended to be mutually beneficial and promote career growth. Each member of the group must be willing to engage with other group members and contribute to the group equally. For example, if the group decides to read a book to later analyze and share ideas, then it is essential that all members of the group complete the reading on time to fully participate. Of course, PLNs should be respectful of members鈥� time (I don鈥檛 recommend lengthy books), and it鈥檚 also important to be mindful of financial abilities (I suggest using open-access readings).
The most important thing to know is that PLNs are meant to help us learn and evolve. Through these relationships, we might find mentors, sponsors, future employers or potential collaborators that can help us reach career goals. Professional learning networks create community, which can help inspire innovation and even advance your career.
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