Here's how you can enhance networking in Peer Support through attending industry events and conferences.

In mental health peer support, there aren’t many “industry” opportunities. We have a few conferences, maybe webinars or facilitated conversations. To be prepared - in knowing what your role is and who you represent is important. Even more so is to have a beginners mindset, be open hearted and genuinely curious. Authenticity is a major competency in our practice, and bring your authentic self is all You need

Ditch the elevator pitch! The beautiful thing about the peer community is that you can show up as your authentic self. If you don’t have a business card or are not active on LinkedIn, consider creating a free digital business card or free bio link.

Whenever I meet individuals at events, the most successful connections have been those where individuals are able to articulate their interests and what they’re looking for. At events, we have such a brief moment to connect that clarity is key and preparation can go a long way. Peer support professionals are some of my favorite people to meet at events because they have a networking superpower relative to the rest of the world: you’re proficient in telling and leveraging your story in professional settings. Tapping into those storytelling and relating skills plus pairing with what/how you hope to contribute will help you and others quickly recognize when you’ve found synergy in connections.

Hopefully you will meet many new colleagues! With all of the action and information a conference can hold, it can be easy to forget the details of a connection. I do my best to take notes whether that is in my notes app in my phone or the back of their business card. I like to include a few personal details to remember them physically if I don’t have a picture of them, along with what I connected with them about or what they said that inspired me.

Whatever methods you choose, consistent and thoughtful follow-up ensures the relationship remains active and productive. Connecting on professional platforms (like LinkedIn) and scheduling follow-up meetings will solidify follow-up efforts.

Before I end a conversation with someone I’d like to connect with, I like to clarify their preferred method of contact and lightly feel out a timeframe for follow up. People tend to appreciate consideration for their time and usually, they will give some helpful feedback which enables me to time my follow up at a time that’s more likely to result in further engagement.

I would say the internet, through the use of social media, is one of the bastions of the new age as well as the perfect platform to share information about conventions one might be apart of. In my experience recaps, Q&A’s, sharing dialogue from presentations, and, community interactions have only made positive additions to my career/ online presence. With any self disclosure though, one would be encouraged to check in with their comfortability sharing any personal information.

Not be so much as asking for something from someone else but a little more like "how can I be of help/service?" and "how can I support you". Both personally and professionally.

Embracing the modern-day tech manner using cool gadgets and apps to speak with buddies, learn new matters, and make new connections. Attending enterprise occasions and conferences is an amazing way to connect to others and locate guides from like-minded people. Stay up to date with reliable occasion systems, observe the hashtags and companies, and explore Live streaming or AR Networking alternatives to get updates. Technology is splendid for connecting with people, but it is critical to keep in mind that it is just a device. It's still high-quality cool to have face-to-face conversations and make actual connections, share your know-how, and use generation to create a network of buddies who can guide and encourage you.

We’re all humans and in connecting, we’re all looking to feel seen. While it’s helpful to know what you are looking for in networking, being present in each conversation you’re having is more meaningful. I meet plenty of people who don’t yet know what they want to do within their network but they’re present in conversation and I can tell what excites them about this work - even that alone helps me know who I could reach out to if even just to pick their brain.

Al participar activamente en eventos y conferencias de la industria,se podrá mejorar la capacidad para crear redes y recibir apoyo entre pares, lo que puede tener un impacto positivo en la carrera y desarrollo profesional.

Become a Resource: You need to specify the type of state that would wish to assist human beings who have difficulties similar to what you have experienced. At the core of it, it is in essence a manner of situating oneself within the structure of P2P form and categorizing oneself as an attractive asset class. Think Beyond Just Peers: More importantly, networking also requires this admiration of other peer guide works and other fields of knowledge. Interact with people who practice similar fields of work, especially fields that involve improving the mental health of individuals or fields that involve social work. This makes you open up to other dimensions and thus seal new deals on partnership.