How to Build Your Network for Greater Success in 10 Easy Steps

I recently wrote an article about the benefits of networking, and the positive impact it can have on your career and business prospects. On top of that, research has shown networking is also great for your emotional well-being and health. Several studies have indicated people with more friends and close relationships live longer.

If the idea of networking fills you with dread, you’re not alone. Many people have a fear of networking. That whole not knowing what to say. Awkward silences. The fear of saying the wrong thing and looking stupid. However, until you get comfortable with networking, chances are you won’t experience the great opportunities that can come from it. And the only way you will get comfortable with networking is by changing how you view it.

So the first step to building your network for greater success?

1)     Change your perception of networking

How you perceive networking will absolutely determine how you feel about it. Perceive it as a painful chore that you have to do and you'll feel the pain associated with the perception. Perceive it as 2 hours of serious pressure to impress everyone you meet to get that job you desperately need, and you'll feel the stress associated with that pressure.

If you want to feel better about networking, you have to change the way you look at it. What if you were able to perceive it as an opportunity to learn about or help others instead? A chance to act as a connector. Or to make friends and expand your social circle. To find out more about industry, company or market news and identify leads. To get inspiration from others about different career paths. Or even simply to have fun and take a break from work. Change the meaning you give to networking and you will approach and experience networking in a whole different way.

Once you’ve overcome your anxiety around networking, you can move onto the next steps of building your network. The following tips apply to both online and offline networking. So step number 2…

2)     Establish your goal for the networking

You must have a clear, specific outcome in mind for the networking. A goal of “I want a finance role in any company in any industry” is way too vague. You won’t know where to start and will feel overwhelmed before you’ve even begun. It also gives the impression to anyone you connect with you’re not serious about your career or goal. Be specific. “I want a Financial Director position with a Tech start-up in Dubai where I will have the freedom to design and execute my finance strategy and build a team of 5 people within 2 years.” will give you, and the people you want to help you, a clearer sense of direction. Making your networking much more efficient.

3)     Take a targeted approach

Once you have identified your goal, you need to create a target list of all the people, companies, groups etc. that will help you achieve that goal. Or at least move closer to it. Then ask yourself, “How can I get my profile or my face in front of them?” and “Where am I most likely to meet them?”. Do your research and find out as much as you can about them. Think about what conferences, exhibitions, networking events, social or sports events they might attend, or social media platforms they use, and contemplate all the ways you can connect with them. Think of all the resources already at your fingertips: people, online/offline, publications, money, time, social media, event calendars, the internet etc. to help you identify leads.

4)     Start with your existing network

There are 6 degrees of separation. In Dubai it has been said there is only 1. Whether it is 6 or 1, this means someone you know might know someone, who might know someone, who might know someone, who might know someone who can connect you to the person or company you want to be connected to.

Write down a list of everyone you know. Friends, family, current and ex-colleagues, past bosses, college/university alumni, sporting buddies etc. Inform them about your goal and ask for their help, giving them clear and precise instructions on how they can help you: “I’d really like to meet this person/company/group. Who do you know that might be able to connect me to them? Would you mind introducing us next week?”.

Offer your contacts a drink/coffee/lunch/dinner/babysitting duties in return for their help and keep following up with them. What have you got to lose?

5)     Set a clear objective for each event

Before you go to a networking event, set your objective for the event. What outcome do you want to achieve? Choose something that is 100% within your control so you know you will achieve it. This will help you to stay motivated in your networking efforts.

For example, instead of setting a goal of leaving the event with 3 job interviews, you could say, “The goal is to introduce myself to at least 3 people and leave with 3 business cards”. Instead of having a goal of “Must make a sale” you could have a goal of “Find out what new businesses are starting up right now or in the next 6 months”.

6)     Aim to build rapport with everyone you meet

Rapport is essential for building a strong network. It helps to establish trust. People will help you if they trust you. They will trust you if they like you or feel a sense of commonality with you. For some tips on how to build rapport and make someone instantly like you, read my previous article here.

7)     Offer to help first

Most people make the mistake of going to a networking event focusing purely on what they will get out of it. Of course, having a goal in mind is important. But what is more important is building trust and relationships so the people you meet will recommend or refer you to others. One great way to achieve this is to take the focus of how they can help you, and focus first on how you can help them. Who can you connect them to? What advice or guidance can you offer them? Being seen as a ‘connector’ or someone who genuinely wants to help others, will help to build trust. If you have helped them, chances are they will offer to help you in return. Plus, helping others is good for the soul and breeds good karma. It’s a win-win.

8)     Ask friends for help – strangers for advice and/or connections

Being honest with your close network, sharing your goal and asking for help is OK. But going to a networking event and directly asking a stranger for a job can put the other person in a really uncomfortable position. Instead of saying, “Do you have any vacancies in finance?” you could say, “Having saved my most recent employer $10m by initiating an innovative cost-saving programme across the company, I believe I could add huge value to a start-up company in the tech industry. What advice would you give someone like me on how to identify these companies and get in front of them?”.

This approach is good for two reasons. First, by briefly mentioning what you have previously achieved, you are sparking interest in the other person. They might want to know more about how you saved your previous employer money, and might start to imagine you doing the same for them.

Second, engaging in a conversation, rather than simply asking for a job, will help the other person feel more at ease. This will create space to build that all-important rapport.

You could even ask them about their own job-searching experiences – what they did and how they did it. What worked. What didn’t work. People generally love to talk about themselves. Give them the opportunity to do that, and you’ll be surprised how quickly they warm to you.

9)     Focus on having conversations

Following on from the point above, focus on having conversations with people rather than trying to impress them or selling yourself. Most people hate being sold to. You can talk about what you do without having to shove it in people’s faces. And it doesn’t have to be at the first meeting. Set the goal of establishing and building relationships first through engaging in conversations and finding out about people, and the rest will naturally follow.

10) Follow up!

If you exchange numbers or business cards with someone, make sure you follow up with them the next day. Ask them if they would like to meet for coffee or lunch to discuss how you can help each other or simply to socialise – whatever your goal.  Don’t wait for the other person to contact you. Take control of your life and be pro-active!

What other tips or advice would you give to someone looking to expand their network? Feel free to share your experiences and comments below.

If you liked this article you might also enjoy:

• https://zetayarwood.com/networking-essential-career-success/ 
• https://zetayarwood.com/workplace-habits-stopping-career-tracks/
• https://zetayarwood.com/ultra-likeable-popular-11-simple-steps/
• https://zetayarwood.com/9-time-wasters-productive-people-avoid/

For more information on how to build your network for greater success, please email me at [email protected]

About the Author

Zeta Yarwood is recognised as a leading Career Coach and NLP Life Coach in Dubai, helping individuals across the world to achieve success in all areas of their lives. With a degree in Psychology and over 10 years’ experience in coaching, management and recruitment – working for multinational companies and award-winning recruitment firms – Zeta is an expert in unlocking human potential. Passionate about helping people discover their strengths, talents and motivation, Zeta lives to inspire others to dream big and create the life and career they really want.

For further information and inspiration, please visit www.zetayarwood.com or follow on Twitter @zetayarwood, Linkedin or Facebook