7 Strategies to Expand Your Network online and off-line

Introduction

Having a positive impact on others and meaningfully engaging people in order to get their buy-in or gain their support to achieve goals are key success factors commonly described as “Influencing Skills.” Whether you’re a corporate leader looking to increase your network outside of your organization, an aspiring entrepreneur building out your business idea, or founder of a startup looking to increase your reach - mastering the art of influencing can help drive positive change, foster collaboration, and achieve your goals. Fear not! Like every surfer has learned to get to a level of mastery and to enjoy riding the waves, mastering the art of influencing without authority and networking can be learned too.

Networking is about Cultivating Genuine Connections

We all have a profound desire to belong and be part of a group. Neuroscience research has shown that we are more likely to follow people we trust and that trust is associated with better performance.

Our brains are wired fundamentally to be social. The brain network that oxytocin activates is evolutionarily old. Yet at work we often get the message that we should focus on completing tasks, not on socializing. Neuroscience experiments by Paul J. Zak’ lab showed that when people intentionally build social ties at work, their performance improves.

A study of software engineers in Silicon Valley found that those who connected with others and helped them with their projects not only earned the respect and trust of their peers but were also more productive themselves. When people care about one another, they perform better because they don’t want to let their teammates down.

Research by social psychologists Amy Cuddy , Susan Fiske, and Peter Glick suggests that the way others perceive our levels of warmth and competence determines our ability to influence. The trio developed the “stereotype content model” and established that people perceive others on two core dimensions—warmth and competence—with many being seen as high on one dimension but low on the other. People seen as warm, but incompetent are liked but not respected. People may feel warmly toward them but deny them challenging assignments and view them as incapable for leadership roles. Conversely, if someone is highly competent but shows only moderate warmth, people may go along with them but step out at the next best opportunity. Creating true engagement and support is only possible by combining both warmth and competence.

7 Strategies to Expand Your Network Through Influencing Skills

1. Cultivate Genuine Connections Focus on building trust and meaningful relationships. Develop a practice of genuinely engaging with people and showing interest in their experiences and challenges.
2. Demonstrate Warmth and Competence Influence effectively by blending warmth and competence. Be approachable and friendly, but also showcase your expertise and competencies to earn both respect and trust.
3. Leverage Neuroscience Insights Understand that the desire to belong and connect is deeply wired in our brains. Use this knowledge to create environments, whether online or offline, that foster genuine social connections.
4. Be a Giver Support others by helping them with their projects and goals. This not only builds respect and trust but also enhances your own productivity and network.
5. Intentional Engagement Make an effort to build and maintain social ties, not just at work but across different professional settings. Intentionally engaging with others can improve overall performance and collaboration.
6. Bridge Relationships Act as a connector by introducing people within your network who could benefit from knowing each other. This positions you as a valuable and influential networker.
7. Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit Participate in collaborative projects and share your knowledge openly. When people see your willingness to contribute and collaborate, they will naturally be drawn to you and your network will grow.

At nextImpact, we are dedicated to building a thriving community for life science leaders and executives in Switzerland. Our vision is to empower leaders to make a positive impact on healthcare by being connected, energized and having a clear roadmap about how/where they can have maximum impact.

Are you ready to increase your impact? Join us nextImpact and start your journey towards creating meaningful connections and leading with influence.

Jasna Canadi Semadeni Carl Emerson Mauricio (Mau) Campos Suarez Giovanni Nisato