When we talk about networking, it's easy to gloss over the basic underlying concept: relationship building. The word "networking" has become a term of art (as we lawyers like to say), and gets tossed around freely by just about everyone to seemingly mean just about anything. Networking has become this "thing" that everyone says you need to do. You need to network to find a job, to secure new clients, to develop your brand, to find a fourth for a scramble, to book a florist for your wedding, to fill your fantasy football league, to etc, etc, etc. You get the point.
Because networking has taken on this mystifying personification, it can be an overwhelming idea to someone who doesn't actively "network", even if they have decided to start (or at least believe they need to). If you don't know where to start, it seems like a pretty uncomfortable endeavor.
It doesn't have to be uncomfortable though. We need to remember the basics. What is networking? To me, networking is simply building relationships. There are a number of different ways to get your feet wet. Whether you are at an organized networking event, or just focusing on reconnecting with past colleagues, classmates or friends; networking is simply fostering relationships. Truly, it's not that bad. There is no secret formula or only one right way to do it. Just find what works for you and stick with it. To get comfortable, try building one relationship at a time, over coffee or lunch. Get use to connecting with people by reconnecting with someone you already know. Build a relationship off of a relationship that already exists. This is where I started. While I was building my comfort and confidence, I honed my networking skills by reading as much about "networking" as I could. There are a lot of materials available, so take some time to find what works for you.
"You do not need an extroverted personality to be successful at networking. What you need is patience and persistence. Then, your networking efforts will lead to the job or clients that you want." Start small and build on it. Having patience and persistence is the key to a successful and efficient network.
1 comment:
Also, go into each relationship expecting nothing out of it, but someone to talk to. You don't want people to think you have an alterior motive for spending time with them. You don't want them to get the feeling your buttering them up to get something from them.
On the flip side you want to do things for them, starting simple, so they know you're there for them if they need it.
When the time comes that you need them to recommend you for a job or connect you with an important person in your industry, they'll be more than happy to.
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