I am a firm believer that networking is one of the most important things you can do for your business and your career. It's not just about meeting new people, but about building relationships with the right people. It's true - you 'need to network before you need your network' – covid was a huge example of this when the job market stopped, people lost their jobs and wanted to network, but they couldn’t. You never know when you will need to utilise your network so it's those who have one, who will undoubetly be one step ahead.

In this post, I will discuss the importance of good networking and how it can help you succeed in both your business and personal life, plus provide you with some tips on how to go about effective networking.

Over my career, I have very consciously developed and nutured my own networks which have been incredibly rewarding both professionally and personally. My network is constantly evolving and I've come to learn it's all about quality of quantity. I have also witnessed my network's network in action, and the successes they have accomplished from it.

Why do people network?

You might love it, you might hate it, but it is 100% a necessity. There is much publicised around how professional networks lead to career advancement, positive business opportunities, improved ability to innovate, quality of work, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. Business networking is about creating mutually beneficial relationships that will serve both you and others in the network. Networking can open doors that you may not otherwise have access to, raise your profile, and provide you with ideas not previously considered. Your network can provide you with an immense opportunity for learning, growth, development, and all sorts of opportunities and ideas you may not even have considered.

Business networks aren’t just your colleagues and managers (although internal networking is of course very important as well) – but they are likely to be leaders in other organisations, your competitors perhaps, business coaches, suppliers, customers, and experts in areas that intersect with yours. It is often the hard yards of networking and active sharing of knowledge that will provide opportunity and yield results. Networking is also a way for people to push the boundaries of their comfort zone and is a skill that should be evaluated and improved over time because ultimately a good network really can support and elevate your career.

Good networking can help you...

• Find career opportunities
• Hire new talent
• Identify new customer opportunities
• Keep a finger on the pulse of your sector and expand your industry knowledge
• Learn and take advice from senior leaders and experts in their field
• Keep you informed of new ideas or technologies that could be implemented in your company and/or role
• Develop and improve your skills (leadership, project management, technical)
• Find an audience for you to offer something of value
• Facilitate and accept new introductions to grow your network regularly

How to build and grow your network?

Networking takes time. As the saying goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ - you can’t expect to create an instant network overnight. You need to cultivate it and regularly take an assessment of who is in your network to ensure its effectiveness. Networking is undoubtedly best done in person with face-to-face interaction that allows you to demonstrate authenticity and builds a genuine relationship, however thanks to the pandemic, there is no shortage of online avenues to explore as well.  I have a client who allocates 2 hours a week in her diary to network with other people, and KPI’d herself on it which is a terrific way to ensure it doesn't get pushed to the 'I'll do it later' pile.

Having something of value to offer to others means it is likely you will in turn receive something of value to you. Events, seminars, webinars, luncheons, and forum groups, are often a good place for individuals to exchange thoughts and open discussion on a particular topic or concept. Some of these events may be paid events or free of charge but do always be prepared to add something of value and course enjoy yourself. Don’t be shy, and push yourself to initiate conversation. Use these as an opportunity to introduce yourself, converse and exchange details.

Some tips when networking:

• Identify your core and immediate network with colleagues and managers then work outside of your organisation to industry or function specialists and identify mutually beneficial contacts
• Look for connections who can facilitate direct introductions and offer this in return
• Be prepared – know what you want to contribute and what you want to take away
• Present yourself well – remember first impressions last (including a well-presented social media presence);
• Know your audience and do your homework
• Prepare your pitch and practice delivery
• Don't stick with only one person for the duration of the event, keep moving around and interacting with many individuals and facilitate introductions where possible
• Ask questions and listen – people want to know they have been heard
• Ask for introductions
• Always follow up

The role of LinkedIn in networking?

Since the introduction of LinkedIn in 2003, the platform has grown exponentially and allowed for global networking on an incredible scale. As of June 2022, LinkedIn has 830+ million registered members from over 200 countries and territories. However, boasting a huge network on LinkedIn is not the name of the game - it remains important to reach out and connect with those contacts who are mutually beneficial and relevant to you, your career, and your business. Perhaps you might post an interesting article or make an introduction to mutual connections – in time, this will come your way.

The team here at West Recruitment is always happy to help open doors and facilitate introductions. Speak to our team of experienced and well-networked consultants to see how we can assist you to grow your own network today.

I hope you have found this useful and if you have some of your own networking tips to share, please comment below!