The Power of Networking:

The Power of Networking: Why & How to Do It Right

In today’s hyper-connected world, networking isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a game-changer for both individuals and businesses. Our ability to build strong, strategic networks unlocks new opportunities, fosters collaboration, and offers invaluable insights and support. 

Many of us think of networking as swapping business cards or contact information at events or adding new contacts on our LinkedIn. While these are some of the ways via which we network, truly impactful networking goes far beyond these things. Networking is about forming meaningful relationships that offer mutual benefits over time, like:

• Identifying new business opportunities – a strong network can expand our reach and help us find new clients, partners, or investors.
• Sharing knowledge – networking allows all of us to stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and innovations and learn from each other’s experiences. 
• Offering a source of support and advice – a network of peers and mentors that can provide us with guidance and support can prove invaluable, especially during challenging times.
• Building our reputation – a healthy network can help build our personal and professional brand, by enhancing our credibility and visibility in our industry.

Many of us also think of our network as a unified milieu. Yet as we go about building, nurturing and leveraging it, we will realize that we have (or need to have) different types of networks, such as professional, business, mentorship, client/customer, or social networks. While members across those networks may overlap, our approach on how we build them often differs. For example, we build professional networks by engaging with professional organizations, attending industry conferences or participating in relevant online forums and groups. Whereas we build or expand our business network by connecting with local business associations, attending trade shows and networking events and building mutually beneficial relationships with key business stakeholders.

Regardless of the types of networks we seek to establish, how we show up to be successful in building and nurturing them requires us to be:

• Clear on our goals – what do we want to achieve through networking? Is it finding new clients, gaining knowledge, or seeking mentorship that we are after? Clear goals help us stay focused and make the most of our networking efforts.
• Genuine – being authentic in our interactions is key in networking. Building trusting and mutually respectful relationships with individuals in our networks is predicated on us showing genuine interest in others.
• Always looking for ways to add value – networking is a two-way street; regardless of our needs, we need to also be thinking about how we can help and add value to our connections.
• Consistent – regularly checking in with our connections, sharing updates and engaging with their priorities and content keeps us relevant and front-of-mind within our networks.
• Always following up – after meeting and adding a new contact, following up with a personalized message shows that we value them and helps us reinforce the connection.
• Patient – building strong networks takes time. By focusing on nurturing long-term relationships rather than seeking immediate gains through our networking efforts, this will ultimately pay off much greater dividends.
• Always keeping it respectful & professional – being punctual, following up and showing appreciation for others’ time and support are key prerequisites for maintaining strong connections with our networks.

Takeaways

Networking is a powerful tool for professionals and business owners alike. By building and nurturing a diverse and strategic network, we can unlock new opportunities, gain valuable insights, and receive the support we need to achieve our goals. We all need to periodically take some time to reflect on and evaluate our networks. Do we have professionals in our networks who can get us the information we need? How about people who can help us get things done? What about individuals who can support us in navigating challenges we are facing? Who can we help and provide added value to? Taking stock of the breadth, depth and strength of our networks can help us set clear goals and focus our networking efforts. Regardless of what we are after, we can never lose sight of the need to be genuine, provide value, and be consistent in our pursuit of impactful networks. 

Feel free to reach out to us to network and explore how we may be a value-add connection to your business!

By Christine Ippolito

Compass Workforce Solutions

330 Motor Pkwy Suite 303

Hauppauge, NY 11788

Phone: 631-794-7400

Fax: 631-254-0204

Email us at: info@compasswfs.com