The power of cultivating a killer network beyond your workplace

Do you network outside of your 9-5 job?

While it’s essential to network within your organisation, spreading your wings and networking beyond your office walls can significantly amp up the benefits and opportunities available to you.

Yet, in my work, I still come across executives who don’t have much of a network beyond their current workplace. They claim they’re happy in their job, and don’t have a plan to move, so networking ‘out there’ doesn’t get much thought.

Some executives even think it's disloyal to network outside of your workplace. The problem with this strategy is that you could be left without a support system if things don’t go to plan at work or you find yourself out of a job at a time not of your choosing.

Here are five reasons why cultivating a wide, killer network makes sense.

• Mixing it up with different perspectives and ideas - Rubbing elbows with professionals from all kinds of industries and backgrounds can provide you with fresh ideas to tackle your work. Mixing things up this way can spark your creativity and broaden your horizons, allowing you to make a more significant impact within your organization.
• Opening doors to opportunities - While internal networking can lead to promotions or a lateral move to a new role, networking with people beyond your workplace can expose you to a whole range of career possibilities, including new industries, job roles, and even entrepreneurial ventures. A diverse network might just be the key to push your career forward in an unexpected way.
• ?Never stop learning and growing - Networking beyond your workplace can help you learn and grow. I’m a member of the IABC and I love the continuous learning and development that comes through networking with communicators all over the world. We discuss new trends and technologies. We debate communication best practices. It’s also fun as many IABCers have become good friends.
• Increase your visibility and recognition - As you engage with professionals from different organizations, attend conferences, and participate in industry events, you’ll become recognised on a larger scale. Soon enough, you might land speaking gigs, get invited to collaborate on interesting projects, or even land your dream job. It’s all about building your influence on a much bigger stage.
• Solving problems at warp speed - Need a quick solution to a work hiccup? Your external network has got your back. Having connections outside your 9-5 job gives you the ability to sense-check your thinking with experts in your network who have been there before, and access to a wealth of knowledge that’s not readily available within your organisation.

So, the benefits of networking widely outside your workplace are obvious. So why don’t we do it?

The reality is when we get busy, networking is one of the first things we cross off our list of things to do. Then, after a time, we’re surprised or disappointed that we’ve not been able to build our impact or influence outside our workplace in the way we’d like to.

Not good at this or unsure of where to begin?

To amp up your networking game, think about teaming up with an executive coach who can help you to develop a smart networking strategy that’s aligned to your goals. With support, your networking efforts will become more intentional and impactful. It’s also great fun meeting lots of new and interesting people as you develop your career.

Developing and nurturing a wide network on a global basis helped me to land a role at McKinsey & Company. Now I help others to unlock the power of networking through personalised executive coaching. If you’re interested in building your impact and influence more widely, get in touch.