How to Build A Strong Network
Simon Zryd
Investor & Business Mentor | Guiding Business Owners to build profitable, scalable and salable businesses. And, connect them to the resources they need to do so.
It's no secret that having a strong network is important to success in business and life. A strong network can provide you with opportunities, connections, and resources that you wouldn't have access to otherwise.
I have seen business owners and professionals expedite their success exponentially because of relationships they were able to develop.
To build a successful network one must understand what makes a network successful in the first place. From my experience it comes down to two main things:
1. The diversity of your network.
2. The quality of relationships you have with the individuals in your network.
With that in mind, how does one go about building a successful network?
First off, it’s essential to understand that your network consists of several “subnetworks.” Think: family, friends, business relationships, people you know from hobbies, church, political affiliations etc. These subnetworks consist of a web of professional and personal relationships who are linked by common interests and who share knowledge and access that are unavailable to outsiders.
Each one of these subnetworks is its own little ecosystem.
When you are part of a specific subnetwork you have four vital advantages:
- Specific Knowledge
- Connections
- Resources
- Opportunities
A good networker is able to cross pollinate people from these different subnetworks to create win-win-win situations. For example, you might be able to introduce a realtor you know from your professional network with a non-profit organization that one of your friends is involved in, and that new relationship can turn into support your local community – win, win, win.
To build a stronger network you have to bring more diversity, and quality of relationships to it.
How to Introduce more Diversity To Your Network
When you look to bring more diversify to your network, you first want to assess which of your subnetworks are strong, and which subnetworks need attention.
For example, you might have a strong network of friends and other parents, but you are lacking in having the right professional or political relationships to move certain aspects of your life/business forward. So naturally your goal would be to try to develop new relationships in those areas.
With this in mind you can come up with a specific action steps like joining a business networking group, or getting involved with your Chamber of Commerce.
How to Strengthen Your Network
The second important ingredient to a successful network is you nurture your relationships and build genuine connections. This takes time, care and attention.
Here are some simple tips for building and maintaining a strong network:
- Be genuinely interested in other people and what do. How are they helping their clients/community/people around them? A great way to strengthen relationships in by providing genuine value.
- Keep in touch regularly, even if it's just a quick email or text message. A strong network requires ongoing effort and communication.
- Be generous with your time, energy, and resources. When you help others, they are more likely to help you in return.
By following these simple steps, you can build a strong network that will support you throughout your life.
If you are looking to build out a strong professional network, I’d live to connect with you!
Simon Zryd is a Certified Value Builder at Denver Business Coach and Community Builder for Network in Action Denver. His passion is guiding Business Owners to build profitable, scalable and sellable businesses. And, connect them to theresources they need to do so.
Leadership Development | Organizational Growth | Affecting Change
2 年I hear many people tell me that keeping in touch regularly is a challenge for them in their network Simon Zryd. And you are right, it can be a simple email or text sometimes. It does not always have to be a coffee meeting or long Zoom call.
Building Valuable, Owner-Independent Businesses
2 年These are great insights, Simon! Anytime I'm talking with people I have a piece of my brain searching for good connections that will help that person, too. Inviting those people to some sort of event together is a really great way to make that connection feel much more natural! thanks!
Scale Your Impact and Income w/o Sacrificing Your Sanity ?? Business Growth Strategist for Coaches ?? Scalable Genius Method? ??? Podcaster ?? Co-Founder GEM Networking Community
2 年"Be genuinely interested in other people and what do." This is one of the most powerful ways to connect with people. I've heard it said that people find you more interesting when you are first interested.
Delivering Uniquely Crafted, World-Class Brands | WOW-FACTOR Brand Creator | Revitalizer of Business | Branding Expert | Visionary | Magic Maker
2 年This post really makes me think Simon! I think the key here is building a strong network. I think what rings truest for me is quality over quantity. I recently started focusing on quality time with my network (fun fact- quality time is also my love language, so it makes sense). But it felt really good to start inviting my favorite partners to lunch, happy hour, golf, or other events instead of an endless stream of zoom meetings. Strong networks require a lot of nurturing and attention, so shifting this way has felt much better to me. I love that your NIA events are in person, as I value being face-to-face with others. ??
Helping Senior Leaders Build Clarity + Confidence || Executive Coach || Leadership Development || Ex Apple || Podcast Host || Best Selling Author
2 年Great tips on building a solid network.