Smarter networking is crucial to success, not only from an individual perspective, but also when it comes to the growth of your company or organisation. It is essential for executives and managers to carefully consider who they should include in their networks and how to build mutually beneficial relationships with these key contacts. The benefits of networking are wide reaching.
Networking broadens your knowledge, expands your reach, leads to new opportunities and increases your social skills. The path to building your network can be dotted with roadblocks, but if you are willing to persist and master these techniques, the rewards will be well worth it for your company and your career.
Experteer has put together an essential guide of top tips for smarter networking, to ensure you continue on the right path to success in the business world. Follow these tips to get the most out of your networking opportunities.
Smarter networking begins in the office
Attending industry events provides the optimal setting for networking with other business professionals, however they are not the be-all and end-all. Smarter networking begins in the office, where building, maintaining and strengthening business relationships will give you the edge.
These relationships within your own organisation are an asset. As a senior manager or executive, smarter networking in the office is not only in your own best interest and the way to succeed in your own personal careers aspirations, it is crucial for for the success of your company.
Research shows employees who trust their company’s executives are twice as engaged as those who do not. Putting in the effort to really connect with your employees and co-workers will have a tangible impact. Not only can companies expect a higher staff retention rate, managers can also count on increased productivity from staff.
The most influencing factor impacting on trust is approachability. Instead of sending an email, have a coffee with the intended recipient and speak face-to-face. This will put you both on the same wave length and is conducive to future interactions.
Foster relationships into the future
The purpose of networking is to build lasting relationships. There is no point in going to an event with the intention of building your network, only to fail to follow up with your new connections after the fact. Do not let your network go cold.
Making the effort to stay in touch does not have to take hours out of your day, but it does take a degree of effort. Send an email containing something of value, for example a link to an article or a summary of a book you recently read that the person would benefit from or enjoy reading.
It only takes a few minutes and is incredibly effective in fostering a connection. Another simple and meaningful way to stay in touch is by congratulating people in your network on career milestones. Set up a Google Alert on key contacts, that way if something significant takes place you will know about it when it happens and can create a lasting positive impression through a simple gesture.
Smarter networking includes getting online to connect on social media platforms, where connections can be made with influential people all over the world. Your social media tools should not be neglected. Stay active online and reach out to interesting people who you want to draw into your network.
What is in a name? Never forget another person
Many people struggle with remembering names. Large events, where many new introductions are made, can be especially problematic. For executives, remembering names is of top importance. Studies show that the brain produces a significant response when people hear their own name, even in a crowded room.
Luckily remembering names is a skill you can learn and continue to improve on. The first step when meeting someone new is to focus. So often people get caught up in other parts of the introduction and initial conversation, only to walk away and realise they no longer have any idea what the person’s name was they were talking to.
When you are introduced to someone new, really concentrate when you hear their name for the first time and then use it in the conversation. Repetition is a helpful way to imprint their name in your brain.
Another helpful tip to use is associating the name with an image. This is a powerful tool that requires dedication. Create a list of names which correlate to an object beginning with the same letter. For example: if you meet someone called Maria, imagine her name written a mobile phone, or another object starting with m.
Keep it interesting – ask engaging questions
Get more out of meeting new people at networking events by asking the right questions. Not only will you make a positive impression by showing keen interest in your new acquaintance, you will come away having learnt interesting new things about them and their business. Some great questions to ask people you have met at an industry event include:
- What drove you to chose the career path you have followed?
- What goals do you want to achieve in the next year?
- What is a piece of career advice that has stayed with you over the years?
- What is your opinion on work life balance and what is your approach to achieving it?
- Who would you invite to dinner if you could choose anyone, alive or dead?
- What job did you want to grow up to have when you were a child?
- Did you have a teacher at school or university who had a lasting impact on you?
Get creative with your questions and create a meaningful dialogue.
Know your goals
Be clear on the outcomes you want from your networking efforts from the get go and align your networking goals with your professional aspirations. What do you want to achieve at work in the next two years? Write down the business goals you have and then work to identify the people who could help you to reach these targets.
Bringing these people into your network will help you achieve your goals. Focus on building the network you want. Make the best use of your time by including the people in your network who you really need.
The saying that you become the people you spend the most time with rings true, so use this to your advantage. When it comes to your network, quality counts over quantity.
Smarter networking is about refining your processes and perspective towards how you approach creating new contacts. It takes a little bit of thinking out of the box and doing things slightly differently to how you have carried them out in the past.
Networking is a skill everyone can master, even those who have always dreaded it. As a senior manager or executive it is essential to your personal brand and that of your organisation to have networking skills of the highest calibre.
