Haven’t Networked in a While? Here’s How to Jump Back In.

Ask a friend (especially one who you know is a good connector) for suggestions about people you ought to meet. See if they’d be open to making introductions or hosting a three-way coffee or video call to connect you. They’ll likely be glad to assist.

This is a great way to re-introduce yourself to the basics of networking — which, at its heart, is just getting to know interesting people more deeply.

Rapidly identify a commonality you share with the other person. Having something in common not only gives you something to talk about, but also conveys that you’re “one of them,” creating a pathway to build trust.

Coming out of a pandemic in which social contact was curtailed and strangers were feared as potential vectors of disease, it may be especially powerful to emphasize your similarities with new connections.

One strategy that makes this easy is choosing targeted events to attend. Rather than going to a general networking mixer, for instance, you might make an effort to attend something sponsored by your alumni association.

You automatically have something in common with fellow attendees, so conversation is likely to flow more easily.

Additionally, the shared experience helps build a sense of familiarity faster, and you may find you have mutual connections already, further deepening the tie.

If you’re willing to take the lead on organizing an event, you can not only control the attendee list, but also structure the flow.

You might consider recruiting a co-host. Dividing responsibilities helps lighten the load. (You can invite three to four guests, and they can do the same.) It also ensures you have help in making the event run smoothly. (If you’re in the bathroom when the conversation lurches into controversial topics, your cohost can steer it back on track.) And of course, the primary benefit is that your co-host will be exposed to your network, and vice versa.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us have been cocooned, talking primarily to our existing colleagues and contacts. But for the sake of our long-term professional growth, it’s time to start meeting new people, and rebuilding loose ties, once again. As you ease back in and use these strategies, you’ll be well positioned to create and maintain lasting professional relationships.