Behold the Four Horsemen of Networking Apocalypse: “I’m not a people person,” “I hate small talk,” “I’m shy,” “I hate big crowds.” For extroverts, networking could come as easy as swimming to a fish. For introverts, though, for the socially awkward, for people who struggle to pick up social cues? It can be like a fish trying to swim through Jello. Networking doesn’t have to be uncomfortable! Like any skill, it can be made easier through practice and through cultivating certain qualities and abilities to make it a smoother process. You don’t have to be a People Person, you just have to be someone who’s genuinely interested in other people. If you have a desire to connect with others, follow these best practices below to make yourself a better networker.
Be Approachable
One of the keys to effective networking is meeting new people. This can be a challenge, especially for introverts, but that’s why things like networking events, conferences, and mixers exist. They create contexts where it’s okay to approach people and make those professional connections. If you’re feeling anxious, one way to assuage your fears is to go in prepared. Have an elevator pitch ready. Know what you’re looking for and what you want out of networking. Are you looking for people who can connect you to jobs? Looking for a mentor? Interested in learning opportunities? Seeking collaborators for a project? Knowing ahead of time what you want to get out of networking will make it easier to filter potential connections and focus on the people who will make a stronger network for you.
Consider your presentation for networking. Are you dressed appropriately? Do you smile a lot and seem friendly, or is your body language projecting a stand-offish quality? Have a business card handy if someone asks for your info. You’ll also want to do a little online maintenance to make sure your digital footprint doesn’t have anything on there that could alienate potential contacts. Look at your social media posts and online presence through the POV of someone who doesn’t know: would they find what you’ve put online off-putting or unflattering? Your digital brand is as much a part of your brand as your physical presence, so make sure it presents you in as good a light as your fresh networking outfit does.
Another piece of advice: if you still have butterflies in your stomach at the thought of going to a networking event, take a public speaking class. Learning how to speak in public can teach you little hacks you can use to feel more confident while socializing; it can also give you insight into how you come across to others, as your speaking instructor and classmates can pick up physical cues and vocal tics that you may be unaware of. And don’t underestimate the value of being a good listener. It can be a rare quality, and people who feel like you’re sincerely hearing them out and not just waiting to talk will be more willing to network with you than someone who’s been on the receiving end of a monologue for 10 minutes straight.
Stay In Touch
When it comes to networking, “out of sight, out of mind” can become a problem if you don’t make an effort to maintain your network. That’s why it’s good to stay in touch with your connections and engage with them. Keep an eye on their professional accomplishments. Did you hear about a recent promotion, or see them post online about a successful project they were involved with? Sending a congratulatory message is a nice way to show them support while also reminding them you exist. Little things like a happy birthday message or an invitation to catch up over coffee can help strengthen your connection with them.
The frequency in which you reach out to your network will depend on the nature of your relationships with your peers. For people you’re already friends with or have an easy chemistry with, you’ll probably be in touch with them on a regular basis. For more formal business connections, it might be every couple of months. Whatever your cadence is, the key is to be consistent. You don’t want to be one of those people who only reaches out to someone when you need someone; you’re much more likely to get someone’s enthusiastic support if you take the time to be in their life and stay “in sight, in mind.”
“Also, be intentional about personalizing communication and showing genuine interest in others,” said Gina Pinch, Rio Salado College faculty chair for Business, Management, and Public Administration. “You do not want interactions to feel transactional.”
It also helps if you stay in touch using a method of communication they prefer. When forging a connection with someone in your network, find out how they like to be contacted. Some people love a phone call while others prefer communicating via email or text. You don’t want to call someone who hates talking on the phone.
Give as Much as You Take
Networking can be a process of give and take. Mutual aid works both ways: if you want people in your network to help you, you have to be ready and willing to return the favor. You can’t gatekeep all your professional connections and knowledge if you want to be a part of a robust network. You have to give as much- if not more - as you take.
Don’t just wait for someone to ask for help. If you know someone in your network is searching for job opportunities or looking to connect with a mentor or fellow professional to work on a project, reach out to them if you know something relevant. They will appreciate you taking the initiative and will be much more likely to afford you the same generosity later if your positions are reversed.
Another way to be a proactive helper in your network is to play professional matchmaker. If you know someone who could be a good contact for someone else in your network, reach out to them and make an introduction. If it ends up being a good fit, you’ve not only added a new person to your network you’ve also managed to level up an existing relationship.
You can also let your contacts know about upcoming events, classes, and webinars that you’re planning on attending that you think they would benefit from as well. It can be a great way to do double duty and get a bit of networking done while also attending an informative event.
Be a Learner
You know what people value as much as a person who gives more than they take? Someone who listens more than they talk. A person eager to learn can build a strong network out of that drive to improve. People tend to be happy to teach what they know if they think the person asking for that knowledge will actually listen to them and appreciate their effort.
When building your network, don’t just look at potential connections through the lens of “can this person expand my range of professional opportunities?” or “can they connect me to someone who can help me grow in my career?” Look at people as teachers, as rich fonts of knowledge. Who can you learn from? Who has already experienced the journey you took, who are in the positions and/or fields you’re trying to ascend to, who can give you hard-earned wisdom as a fellow professional?
Much like the “give as much as you take” philosophy from earlier, you may not always be the learner. There may be people who need the knowledge YOU have. Be open to sharing that with them. A network isn’t just going to be people who are senior to you; there should also be people at your level and people coming up from below where you are now. For those “junior” connections, your mentorship could be a real boon to them. It’s important to remember that not everyone advances at the same speed in their professional lives; somebody who was a novice compared to you now may in a few years time end up farther down the road than you. Luck and opportunity touch us all differently. In a case like that, putting in the time to help them when they are getting started transforms them into a very useful connection for you when they’re on a higher level.
At the end of the day, you should cultivate all the relationships you have and treat them like mystery seeds planted in a garden. You don’t know what they’ll grow into, but you’ll never taste the sweet fruits of that harvest if you don’t put the time into nurturing those connections in full flower.
Article by Austin Brietta
Career Corner
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