Networking - Excuses, Obstacles, Rewards
Networking is a necessary part of life. In the business world, it's how you build your contacts and learn more about opportunities for success. But like many aspects of modern society, online networking has made things way too easy—and that's led to widespread complacency in recent years.
It's time to start putting in work again: when you're networking, don't just talk with everyone who crosses your path. Consider these five tips to make sure you get what you need out of the experience: finding new connections, improving your approachability, identifying potential mentors and referrals if you're looking for a job or internship, using social media wisely for job-hunting purposes and staying active on LinkedIn.
1. Put in the Time
When you're networking, don't be lazy. You shouldn't put in just a little bit of effort, or you'll find yourself forgetting to follow up on connections and missing some opportunities—if not the big ones, then at least the smaller ones that feed into those opportunities. If you want to connect with new people, would prefer not to have your conversations fall off your radar altogether and want to make sure that people will take you seriously as a professional and contact you again if possible (and if they have any projects going that might be a good fit for your skills), then you need to consistently maintain contact with people whom you've met.
2. Make Sure It's Not All About You
This can be hard to do, especially if you're in a situation where you're the one doing most of the talking. But if you want to turn things around and make yourself approachable, you need to ask questions and listen to others' answers. Also, give people an opportunity to get to know you better by sharing information about yourself that goes beyond a simple job title or your field of work. People will be more likely to help tie your name back with your role, and when they think about networking opportunities or refer friends who might also be interested in connecting with you, they'll think of your name—and take steps to reach out. You can do the same by asking them questions and learning more about your colleagues, like what they're doing at their jobs and how they ideally want to be approached.
3. Connect With People You Like & How You Like To Connect With People
Networking is serious business for many people, but it doesn't have to be so stiff and serious that you can't connect with people on an emotional level—and you don't need to do so with everyone. I've found that if I meet someone new, it's much easier for me to make a connection when we genuinely like each other or find ourselves in similar situations—maybe they're a small business owner like me or they're in a similar industry with some of my clients. If I know we're going to have a positive experience from the start, I'll often be more inclined to just share with them what's on my mind without forcing someone to be my gateway for getting to know me better.
4. Go Beyond Your Business "Brand" & Try To Embrace Your Personal Brand
When you're networking, it's good to approach people with the same professional goals in mind that you have—for example, if you're looking for a new job and meeting someone at an event or conference, make sure you keep it professional and focus on asking relevant questions that help that person find out what your goals are. But a lot of our identities don't revolve around our jobs, and we're often more than our titles. So, if you want to progress beyond the minimum level of networking, make sure you put in the extra effort and try to get to know someone—or at least be a little more present to the person and their personality type—so when you see them or connect with them down the road and it makes sense for both of you, you can take an extra step toward bonding.
5. Go Beyond Your Online Network & Put Yourself Out There
It's not just about keeping in touch with your LinkedIn and Facebook friends and connecting with people you've met through social media. It's important to put yourself out there as well, by attending networking events or joining local networking groups where you can connect with professionals who are looking to make connections and learn more about the doors they might not know existed or how they could tie back into their jobs.
5. Become a Better Communicator
I'm not just talking about using social media to network, manage your career and learn from others—I'm also taking about the skills you use when you're speaking to others in person. I know—it sounds so simple, but if you've ever had to speak with someone in front of a group of groups (i.e.: work colleagues or potential clients), you know that people can be really uncomfortable when they're taking notes or listening in on a conversation.
I've seen this firsthand, and the good thing is it's really easy to improve. Here are two tips for doing so:
1. Always Make Sure You Have a Plan or Outline Before You Get Started
A lot of times when I'm speaking to groups and organizing my thoughts, I'll take out flashcards, note cards or something else that lets me write down what I want to say. This helps me break things down into more manageable pieces and make sure my words don't all blend together as I'm talking.
Conclusion
Networking is no longer just for job-seekers. It's a necessary skill for someone looking to advance their careers and learn more about the world of business. But it doesn't have to be a chore—after all, it's just words. All you need to do is make sure you put in the time and make sure you're connecting with people you like, how they like to connect with other people, and want yourself to connect with them.
"What are your suggestions for improving your networking skills?" he asked me in a follow up email.