The Power of Networking
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Have you ever noticed how some people can easily “work the room” during a social event? They seem to know everyone, laugh genuinely during conversations, and engage well with people. These charismatic people seem to thrive in social environments. While it is likely that outgoing people have an easier time making small talk with individuals in a social situation, everyone can benefit from building a network – no matter how naturally it comes. While it might take some skill-building, networking is a natural and inevitable part of life. Building relationships that lead to meaningful and deeper conversations can actually lead to opportunities, career growth, best practice sharing, and new ideas.
Networking is a skill, and it doesn’t come easily to everyone. The Wilbanks Consulting Group loves to come alongside individuals to help them understand their network, develop networking skills, and determine strategies to continue to build upon their network in the future. Reach out to us today to learn how partnering with a professional career coach can uplevel your networking strategy.
What is Networking & Why is it So Important?
Oxford Languages defines networking as “the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.” Everyone has a network; some just have a broader network than others. The good news is that with a little self-reflection and dedication, we can all grow our network to be a natural and beneficial part of our professional lives.
Developing and maintaining relationships that create opportunities to exchange information, resources, or support is another definition for networking. It can be categorized in one of three ways:
Operational networks are relationships that you can rely on to be able to complete a task or work efficiently and effectively.
Personal networks are relationships that you can lean into for the purpose of learning, growth, and connecting to resources that are valuable to meeting your needs and aspirations.
Strategic networks foster movement in future endeavors and often includes networking across groups.
According to Michael Page, a well-known recruiting firm, networking “benefits everybody involved.” Through networking, one is able to build professional and personal relationships that not only allow new opportunities and growth but allow people to develop personally through exchanging ideas and sharing best practices. Many business deals and successes come from personal networks and relationships. There is a reason that people say, “it’s not what you know, but who you know.”
While networking is beneficial for many reasons, including shared learnings and idea generation, it is critical if you are in the midst of a job search. “According to HubSpot, 85% of jobs are filled through networking. In fact, according to CNBC, 70% of jobs are never published publicly” (ApolloTechnical).
Apollo Technical also states that networking helps impact the bottom line, as it is a key determinant when finding and retaining customers. Statistically, in-person meetings end in a sale or deal almost half of the time (40%). And executives have stated that they would lose at least 28% of profits if they stopped networking.
Networking should continue your entire life. It will always lead to additional professional and personal benefits.
“Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.” — Michele Jennae, Career Coach
Photo by Product School on Unsplash
How Do I Develop Networking Skills?
LinkedIn gives 10 ideas for how to get started on your networking journey, as well as benefits that come from boldly trying new approaches.
Strengthen business connections: To effectively network, you should reframe how you think about it. I’m sure during holidays you hear, “it is better to give than to receive.” This is true of networking as well. Consider how you can share, not take, and you will quickly form trustworthy relationships with others that progress both of your goals. Regularly engage with others and ask how you can support them in achieving their goals, and you will soon find that people reach out to you with the same offering.
Get fresh ideas: Exchange information with others about your perspective/ideas and ask them for their opinions in return. Discussing challenges as well as positive outcomes will give you a new perspective as you address new issues.
Get out there: Be visible; attend professional and social events to meet new people. While at these networking events, practice active listening skills ensuring that you engage in the conversation, remember people’s names, and offer your knowledge and expertise. There is no substitute to putting yourself out there and meeting people!
Advance your career: As you attend more professional and social events, you will build a reputation as someone who is knowledgeable in your industry or field. Over time, people will reach out to you for your opinions and perspectives.
Get access to job opportunities: Growing your network may lead to additional career opportunities or business growth. When you are actively engaging with others in your field, you will come to mind when opportunities arise.
Gain more knowledge: Pay attention to articles and information about your field and interests. The more current you stay with trends, the more you will have to talk about when networking with others. And if you saw a post on someone’s LinkedIn page, don’t forget to comment with your opinions or gratitude for posting the information.
Get career advice and support: As you grow your network, you will add potential mentors and trusted advisors to your circle of influence. You can then reach out to these people when you have a question or want to bounce an idea off of someone else.
Build confidence: Step outside of your comfort zone and put yourself into new situations to meet people. This will not only open your doors to new networking contacts, but also build self-confidence.
Gain a different perspective: Talk to people in your field who might be outside of your organization or school. We can get in a “rut” by doing the same things and interacting with the same people. This will provide new perspectives and overcome roadblocks in your thinking.
Develop long-lasting personal relationships: As you grow your network, you will develop deep relationships that can lead to lifelong connections. Because your networks are likely similarly minded, you might just develop a personal connection with a professional contact.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
How Do I Begin?
If you still feel uncertain about your networking skills, you aren’t alone. This is a skill that has to be developed. The experts at The Wilbanks Consulting Group are happy to help you sharpen your networking skills. We will partner with you to develop your networking map and then develop targeted strategies to further develop your network. Contact us to set up a free 30-minute consultation today.
You never know what opportunities might arise as you continue to build your network!