Highly collaborative business relationships are often born from networking. The person you meet at an industry conference today could become a collaborative partner who helps you achieve social impact or grow your business in the future.
Unfortunately, only 48% of people say they keep in touch with their network. This can lead to missed opportunities that keep you from forming deeper business relationships. By learning to better leverage your network, you can set yourself up for stronger future partnerships.
1. Join a Conversation In a Meaningful Way
One of the easiest things you can do is start by looking for conversations within your network where you can participate in a meaningful way. Whether you’re engaging in small talk at a conference or on LinkedIn, adding value to the conversation is key to turning your network into something that will help you develop meaningful partnerships.
This means you need to do more than just participate in small talk at a business event. Instead, consider what you can add to the conversation. Need some creative ideas? Just do a simple Google search and you will find lots of good ideas such as this list of “25 networking conversation starters that never fail” or this Forbes list of “15 ways to start a conversation at a conference without feeling weird.”
It also means doing more than just hitting the like button on a LinkedIn post. Instead, seek to add value by commenting on questions that draw from your own experiences and insights, or simply share your opinion.
These simple actions will help you build and maintain rapport with your network — and potentially connect with other people. Your meaningful contributions can also help establish your credentials within your niche.
2. Ask for Help
What’s something that you need help with in your business, right now?
A lot of us are scared to ask for help because we’re afraid it will make us look weak. But many people in your network will be willing to offer their support in whatever way they can, giving you the necessary resources to overcome your problem. Depending on what you need help with, this could also lead to new partnership opportunities.
Be honest about what you need help with, and always express gratitude to everyone who offers feedback or advice. Let people know that you’ve seen their suggestions and value their input.
Finally, be on the lookout for when others are asking for help. You may not have the resources to directly assist in every situation, but offering recommendations for classes, podcasts or training programs can be valuable. And of course, a referral to someone else in your network is often greatly appreciated.
3. Use Your Current Connections to Find New Connections
One of the fastest ways to grow your current network is to tap into your current connections with the specific goal of meeting new people.
As Dr. Parwiz Daud, CNO at Validus, explained during a recent conversation, “Your current connections will always know someone you don’t. You can use this to quickly grow your own network. Set up a lunch, Zoom call or some other kind of get-together. Invite two friends, and tell them to each invite one or two of their connections. This shouldn’t be for any kind of formal meeting — keep it relatively casual. All of a sudden, you’re getting introduced to new people who you can add to your network. And with this personal approach, you’ll make a far more memorable impression than a mere social media friend request.”
Making such gatherings a regular occurrence is a great way for you to consistently grow your network in a more personal and meaningful way. It’s also a powerful way to strengthen the connections you already have in place.
4. Be Yourself (and Share It)
Finally, don’t be afraid to be yourself when sharing who you are on social media or interacting with people in your network. Share your personality. If your favorite hobbies come up, don’t be afraid to talk about them.
Many of the strongest relationships in any network develop when people have shared interests outside of work. Whether your interests include anime or football (or both), sharing this bit of your personality will make you much more engaging than someone who is all business, all the time.
Of course, you should be careful to avoid going overboard in what you share. Keep things appropriate for a professional profile and avoid political discussions, as this is more likely to create division rather than bring your network together.
By striking the right balance, you can share your human side while still building a professional acumen. This makes you that much more memorable for people who want to connect within your network — and it could even make all the difference when someone is trying to decide who to reach out to about a partnership opportunity!
The Time to Grow Your Network Is Now
Networking inevitably requires stepping outside your comfort zone. It’s not always easy putting yourself out there, especially when trying to connect over something related to your business. And while you’re not always going to get the immediate “returns” that you’re looking for, making networking a priority now will pay off in the future.
By helping you find new partnership opportunities or solving other business problems, networking is key to creating valuable win-wins.
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