The (Lost) Art of Networking

Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting an event at Finn Partner’s Boston office with my friends Amir Lahav (DHAI Summit) and Alex Koshykov (Health2Tech). It was a fantastic evening of relationship-building, discussion, and, of course, great food and drinks, among an amazing group of leaders and innovators from the Boston health community (and beyond).

As I walked around the space, enjoying conversations with friends and colleagues (both old and new), I was reminded once again of the incredible energy and power of these types of in-person events. I witnessed new perspectives being shared, new ideas being generated, and, most importantly, new relationships being formed.

While we’ve come a long way since the days of Covid lockdowns, I often worry that the Slack/video-call/remote work lifestyle is hindering the most important part of business: relationships. Digital communication certainly has its benefits, but there is no more effective way to build relationships than through in-person meetings and networking. And, while I was encouraged to see some younger professionals at the event, I am somewhat concerned that our next generation of leaders is not as active as they can or should be in this “networking culture.”

So, today, I’m sharing some networking tips to help all of us:

1. Seek Opportunities. Unlike work meetings, most networking events don’t just show up in your Outlook calendar. You need to seek them out. Join affiliate groups, pay attention to targeted ads on your social feeds (many can be useful), and ask friends and colleagues about upcoming opportunities. There are plenty of chances to meet new people with similar passions and purposes — you just need to look for them.
2. Show Up. As someone who hosts many events, I’ve come to expect that about 50% of people who sign up don’t show up. Not only does that negate any potential benefit of attending, but it also sends a poor message to the organizer who planned (and paid for) food and drinks - and possibly turned down others due to space constraints. Be considerate.
3. Put Yourself Out There. The good news about networking events is that everyone is generally there for the same reason—to meet like-minded people. In most cases, they want to talk to you. So, as difficult as it may seem at first, leave your introvert self at the door and just say hi to someone. You’ll be amazed at how quickly a good conversation can start.
4. Be Inquisitive. Networking events are for networking, not sales pitches. Share a bit about yourself and your organization, but unless the other person specifically asks for it, hold off on the hard sell. Instead, take time to get to know other people. Ask about their life or business journey, get inspired, seek new perspectives, and discover shared interests, passions, or purposes.
5. Follow Up. If you have business cards, give them out. Exchange emails or phone numbers. Connect on LinkedIn. Do whatever you need to do to connect—and then be sure to follow up. Send a nice note (even if it’s part of the LinkedIn connection), share content they might find interesting or, if applicable, invite them to meet again (for a business discussion, another networking event, etc.). The event is just step one.

Your education, experience, intelligence, and skills are certainly critical to your success. However, your network can be your most important asset. Take the time to build it, nurture it, and grow it.

If you know of any upcoming events that may be of interest, please spread the word. In that spirit, be sure to check out the Digital Health and AI Innovation Summit from October 7-9 at the Boston Marriott Cambridge. Maybe I’ll see you there.

As always, I hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to share it with others who might find it interesting, and share your thoughts here.