Networking seems like a daunting task, but is vital in promoting yourself or your business to others. It’s the reason you’ll often hear from successful people that it doesn’t matter so much what you know, as it does whom you know.
Knowing the right people will give you the upper hand in personal, career, and business endeavors. You’ll have a diverse network of highly specialized individuals to call upon when you need assistance or contacts to promote your service to.
So how can you step up your networking game to build better connections and improve your business, career, or personal success?
1. Change Your Mindset
Start with a positive mindset about networking. Many feel that networking is a sleazy tactic to sway people into giving you what you want. But that doesn’t have to be the case! Think of it as a way to connect with people to create the most value together.
In fact, I’ve made several entrepreneur friends from merely having fun conversations with them. One has successfully closed a deal on Shark Tank, and another is currently developing a product with a patent. Both have stated interest in working/collaborating with me because I have a skill set they want on their team. You never know what kinds of people you’ll find simply from chatting them up.
With the right attitude, your enthusiasm will show in your expressions, body language, and words. The right mindset makes you feel good about generating the most value with people AND connecting with them on a deeper level. Make them think, “Wow, I’d love to work with this person.”
2. Be Genuine
Show your true colors and only get involved with people if you genuinely want to work with them. Everybody wants to make the most of their time, so back out early if you’re not interested. They’ll respect you for being honest and freeing up their schedule to find someone whose interests align with theirs.
Being genuine doesn’t only serve to save time, but also to boost your image. After all, networking is all about forging real relationships that generate value for everyone. You’ll also earn a reputation for being trustworthy, which is a valued characteristic when networking.
3. Bring Something to the Table
The primary purpose of networking is to answer the question, “How does this benefit me?” Keep in mind that you’re not the only person thinking this; the person you’re networking with is also gauging how worthy you are. Therefore, it’s equally important to ask the question, “How can I create value for you?”
Most people, especially those of higher status in their fields, want to know what you can do for them in exchange for their time. Make sure you have something to offer because most people will only invest in you if you aren’t just wasting their time.
4. Listen
Listening is one of the most important things you can do while networking. Most people enter a networking situation and immediately go into sales mode. Stop trying to find any opportunity in the conversation to sell yourself or your product.
When you start paying attention in earnest, the other person will notice and view you more favorably for making them feel heard. But listening also allows you to gather crucial information about this person that may help you later on.
They may tell you about a problem that only you can fix. Or you may even know the right person that can help them out. In either case, it doesn’t hurt to win their good graces, especially if you’re thinking about working with them in the future.
5. Be Curious
The best way to show someone your interest is to be interested in the first place. Ask questions about a problem they’ve solved that you’ve been trying to figure out.
If you’re networking with someone more knowledgeable than you, you’ll want to draw upon their expertise and give them the opportunity to talk about themselves. But if you’re only pretending to be interested, the only question you should ask is why you’re even talking to this person in the first place.
People generally want to pass on their knowledge to someone worthy of teaching. Showing genuine interest will let them know that they’re talking to someone who has a willingness to learn. Because they see you with potential, you could very well be next in line to succeed them when they eventually move up.
6. Follow Up Immediately
When you get the other person’s contact information, message them within 24 hours. Everyone has likely been trying to network with them, so you’ll need to make sure you distinguish yourself from the rest!
Let the person know that it was great meeting them and that you enjoyed your discussion. Then share some insight or article related to the conversation that solves one of their problems.
Not only does this show you were paying attention, but also tells them you were actively thinking of their well-being. They’ll be much more likely to remember the person who helped them with a problem than someone they just talked with over coffee.
7. Refer Someone Else
Even if you’re not interested in what the other person is doing, offer to refer them to someone that may provide more value than you would. Doing this gives you the benefit of ending an interaction early to save you both time, while also creating value for others (and possibly yourself).
Even if you don’t get anything out of referring someone immediately, it doesn’t hurt to help others network. More often than not, they’ll appreciate your help and return the favor by giving you access to their contacts. You might even earn a reputation for having connections with influential people, which would encourage others to start networking with you!
8. Make Everyone a Winner
Network to create win-win situations. Not only do you want to benefit from this interaction, but also to make sure someone else does as well. After all, nobody wants to feel used. Have the other party understand that you’re creating a mutually beneficial relationship instead of just freeloading off their hard work.
Simply saying something like, “It was great meeting you. I’m sure we can both learn a lot from each other” will tell the other person you intend to create value together, not at their expense. Afterward, make sure you deliver on this promise by offering resources or help even when unprompted.
9. Network Down
The average person usually tries to network with those who are already successful. But you never know if someone has the potential to become even more successful in the future. You might regret not reaching out to the person just starting on their journey when they need the most help.
After all, if you’re the one who helps them along their path to success, you just might reap the rewards of your good karma in the future.
But don’t network down just for personal gain. Even without getting anything in return, the value of mentoring someone will help both parties learn and grow together. Whether the interaction is beneficial immediately should not stop you from reaching out to those who show potential.
10. Know What You Want
Networking without a plan is both unproductive and potentially harmful. Keep a checklist for characteristics that someone must have for you to network with them. Also, have a list of goals you want to accomplish through networking to avoid wandering around aimlessly.
Ideally, you’ll want to connect with those who are a positive influence AND create a beneficial relationship with you or someone you know. Being selective of whom you network with isn’t snobbish, it’s called having standards. Unfortunately, keeping people of questionable character around could slow down your progress or go as far as to hurt your reputation.
Conclusion
Networking the right way doesn’t have to be an anxiety-inducing chore. It should all be about working with others to make the world a better, more productive place.
Whether you’re promoting yourself on social media or in a business setting, networking is essential to your success. As long as you connect with the right people, you can multiply your potential in fulfilling your goals.
Do you have any networking tips that work well for you? Share below in the comments!
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