deepstash
Beta
7 Best Practices for Networking That Actually Work
Make friends, not contacts
Friends do business with friends.
By no means is this a suggestion to go be one of those social climbers who pretends to make friends in the name of getting to the top. It's more about having genuine connections, with openly stated goals, aspirations and struggles.
150 SAVES
This is a professional note extracted from an online article.
Read more efficiently
Save what inspires you
Remember anything
IDEA EXTRACTED FROM:
6
Key Ideas
Make friends, not contacts
Friends do business with friends.
By no means is this a suggestion to go be one of those social climbers who pretends to make friends in the name of getting to the top. It's more about having genuine connections, with openly stated goals, aspirations and struggles.
Listening
One of the best networking hacks in the world.
People with knowledge tend to hold back what they know under the presumption that you aren't really interested in what they have to say. But if you listen and show not only your interest but your appreciation, they will share. They will share everything they know, and then some. So not only is this a learning opportunity for you, but it becomes one of the fastest ways to make friends and build an incredible network.
Ask for an introduction
Everybody knows someone. If you want to meet someone in particular, ask the people you know if they know anyone who knows the person--and then ask them to make an introduction.
At the end of the day, a warm lead is always better than a cold lead. If you can get in the door with some sort of referral, that will always be better than a cold email or phone call.
Give, then ask
Whenever you help someone reach a goal, make a connection, overcome an obstacle, etc., you are doing so many important things for that relationship: You are establishing a friendship, you are showing your willingness to invest in him or her first, you are showing your value, and you are building trust.
Keep your word
If you are not able to do this, then all your other networking efforts amount to very little. For every lead in, two leads fall out.
Introduce yourself
While a referral or an introduction can be great, at the end of the day it's all about you grabbing life by the horns and saying, "This is who I am and this is what I do."
At the gym. At the pool. At the club. At whatever event.
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
5
Key Ideas
Practice networking everyday
If you do this when you’re not feeling needy, you wil...
Keeping in loose touch
You pop up now and again to your connections and acquaintances (old and new), without any obligation to follow up or see each other in person.
- It helps you to connect even with your weak or dormant ties, that will, in turn, be able to help you if you with what opportunities they have.
- You can connect via text or email, and you can take the time to compose thoughtful messages without being put on-the-spot.
The effect of loose touch
... is to put you into someone’s consciousness for a few minutes, and vice versa.
In cultivating loose-touch connections, know that your network won’t appear all at once; it takes steady, continuous work.
2 more ideas
6
Key Ideas
Email updates
Building a strong network is one thing, and keeping it strong is another.
But it’s not that difficult to maintain your relationships: sending a few email updates per year ...
LinkedIn updates
Share updates pretty regularly in order to tell connections what’s on your mind, whether it’s your point of view on some industry news story, or just congratulating a colleague on a business win.
And by putting yourself out there, you’re taking regular small steps that could someday turn into an opportunity to take a bigger one.
Tell people to text you
It allows individuals to get straight to the point, and since many people use texting as a daily form of communication, you’re more likely to get a response.
The trick is to make sure you apply standard business etiquette, such as respecting business hours.
3 more ideas
2
Key Ideas
Purpose of Career Networking
It involves using personal, professional, academic or familial contacts to assist with a job search, achieve career goals, or learn more about your field, or another field you'd like to work in....
Top 7 Networking Tips
- Include the right people: anyone who can assist you with a career move
- Know what your career network can do for you
- Keep in touch - work your network: People are more willing to help when they know who you are
- Give to get - what can you do for your career network
- Keep track of your network:
make sure you know who is who, where they work, and how to get in touch.
- Network online
- Attend networking events.