For the Love of Networking

I recently had the privilege to share ideas on the topic of networking with the members of our Women’s Empowerment Network #WEN. Giving our members the tools and resources to further excel in their careers is a key component of our mission.

Perhaps to a surprise to many that know me, I consider myself a situational introvert and with that, I found networking to be equally fascinating…and challenging. Networking became an area of opportunity but one I managed to grow into and dare I say, enjoy. What’s more, in all my years leading, training, coaching, and mentoring- I have found that despite knowing how important it is, networking is an activity many professionals despise. This only becomes more complex in our remote world.

Therefore, if walking into a room full of strangers sounds like your worst nightmare, you are not alone. Preparing for my presentation I came across a LinkedIn article that reported that nearly 80% of those interviewed deemed networking as “crucial to career success” yet close to 40% admitted it was something hard to do. Admittedly, there are factors that can further complicate the dynamic. For instance, certain personality traits and cultural backgrounds can impact our readiness to network. Moreover, according to this article, women are said to have less robust networks.

This begs the question: How do we discipline ourselves and learn to love networking (or at least change our mindset around it?)

We could spend quite a bit of time developing a very extensive strategy, but my goal was to keep it at some of the basics. The most important aspect of new habit-building is getting started, and for me, starting with baby steps works best.

Here are some of my basic tips for networking in person or remotely:

1.??????Be selective – consider which events you want to attend. Perhaps start with a local event or one where you already know some of the people that will be in attendance.

2.??????Do your homework – explore in advance who will be in attendance, research their backgrounds, prepare your introduction or elevator pitch, and arrive early to check your surroundings.

3.??????Set goals – this is a great way to measure your success and find something to feel good about right away. Your goal might be to attend 2 events per month, to connect with 2 other people in your field, or to connect specifically with the one person that can make a difference in your career right now. Make the goals meaningful, measurable, and realistic.

4.??????Mind your body language – ensure you are engaging in networking enthusiastically! What does that mean? Keep your body language open, make eye contact, shake hands, keep the camera on, and smile!

5.??????Recharge as needed – Know when to take a short break to regroup. A breath of fresh air can do wonders especially if you start to feel overwhelmed.

Perhaps the hallmark of networking, at least to me, is the spirit of reciprocity. In other words, do not jump into networking thinking of ways you can gain a benefit. Instead, find opportunities to connect authentically with people, ask genuine questions that allow you to know who they are, what they are about, and what will bring value to them. During the presentation, we went into breakout rooms to practice what we had just discussed, and this is what I asked them to do:

·??????Set a goal

·??????Practice introductions

·??????Ask questions

·??????Think of a way to help the other person

·??????Consider a way to foster that relationship

I’m convinced that networking is the perfect avenue to make authentic connections, build your brand, and increase your influence. You don’t need thousands of contacts- a select group of meaningful and active connections can deliver the greatest impact. I’m reminded of something one of my early mentors said to me once: build your network before you need your network.

What is your best networking strategy? I am in the process of crafting another workshop and would love to incorporate your ideas. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.