If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

What is networking?

It’s about building relationships, developing professional and social contacts, and exchanging information. Your network can consist of friends, family, co-workers, classmates, lecturers, previous employers, customers — the list goes on. It’s probably the most important commercial skill you can have.

If you’re not already building your network, you ought to start now. A recent survey from The Adler Group revealed that 85% of all jobs are filled via networking. Data like this proves just how imperative it is to make strong professional connections. It’s what and WHO you know that will help you in your career. Developing a strong professional network requires purposeful action. If you want to get something out of your network, you have to put in quality effort to make new connections and foster existing ones.

WHY do other people network?
Let’s be honest, we all network for the same reason — to get something we want, which is why it works! Through networking, we form mutually beneficial relationships. It’s important to not only think about what you want, but what the other person wants as well. Networking can boost career prospects, help you find new opportunities, find unadvertised jobs, find a mentor, and much more.

Be open to meeting new people. Whether at events, work, or on social media, don’t just sit back and hope your network will magically grow itself — because it won’t.

Networking can often be very intimidating. Many people feel awkward because they don’t want to seem too pushy, don’t know where to start, etc. The key to networking is to be genuine. When you genuinely engage with people and are excited about forming relationships, that will show through to others. Networking is one of those things that people know they should do, but they’re not as confident or comfortable with it as they’d like to be. There’s good news, though — You can learn how to be great at it.

Think more about GIVING and less about GETTING
As you develop relationships, think about giving more than you get. Which, in the long run, may actually help you more than you ever imagined. Think about what you can do to help someone else. Even if they don’t reciprocate, you will still be adding value to those who are connected to you.

HOW do you build your network?
There are a lot of ways to build your network. Some are referrals from friends and family, at career fairs and industry functions, through social media, attending social events, joining a mentoring program, etc.

If you’re looking to network at work — branch out from your own niche! Different departments can give you insight you may never have thought of yourself. Being at a company whose culture allows you to collaborate with ease helps this process immensely.

Networking at events

Networking at events can seem overwhelming, but if you go into them prepared and confident, it will make the process much smoother. Here are some tips to remember at your next event

1. Listen more than you talk:
   “We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak.” — Epictetus
2. Think long term vs short term. Don’t be pushy or rush a relationship when you first meet someone. You may become great friends with the person. Or you may find out that you and that person don’t actually click well. Either way it’s ok, but it takes time to determine these things. When you meet someone new, participate in meaningful, genuine dialogue. Real relationships take time, and plus, you don’t want to scare that new person away!
3. Be present: Many people when networking, at events in particular, are not present. Often times, they’re looking around, planning their next move, wondering what is being served for lunch. During these short interactions, you want to be giving your undivided attention to this new connection. Not only respect the fact that they’re taking their time to speak with you, but acknowledge that this is a great opportunity to make new connections
4. Be honest: This one is pretty straight forward. Tell the truth and don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.
5. Only go to things that interest you: Your time is limited; only commit to things you actually want to do. This helps you manage your time, and by going to things that excite you, you will probably be much more engaged and open.
6. Don’t over commit: You’ll meet a lot of people; you don’t need to make a commitment to meet up later or stay in touch with everyone.
7. Take immediate action: If you agree to do something, such as planning a future meeting or exchanging contact info do it immediately. This turns your words into actions and prevents to-dos from piling up.

LEVERAGING YOUR ONLINE NETWORK

There are many online platforms that make it easy for you to connect with new people without it seeming pushy or forced. People are always having discussions on basically anything. All you have to do is look up topics that interest you. These forums are a great and convenient way to make valuable contributions to the conversation, share what you’ve learned, or provide/receive recommendations. These platforms easily allow you to share your knowledge and experience! Sites like LinkedIn are a great opportunity to share your experiences, input, and offer your expertise.

It’s important to keep in mind though, that it’s MORE than just posting content. People should be able to benefit from your insights and experiences.

When posting to your network online, keep in mind that anything you post represents you. Steer clear of links that are irrelevant and when posting, make sure you add your own personal take on a topic. This encourages engagement and gives your network greater insight into who you are.

Be interested before being interesting.

Before you post, ask yourself:

1. Why am I sharing this?
2. What’s my take?
3. Is there a key idea my network should take away from this?

One last reminder — While it’s important to make new connections, don’t forget about the contacts you’ve already made! Networking serves no purpose if you don’t intend to continue the relationships in the long run. You can “connect” with thousands of people, but if there is no real relationship after that initial meeting, it’s pointless. So go out there, conquer, and build your empire! Today is a great day to start meeting people.

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