Show me your friends and l will tell you about yourself, is a very common phrase. A lot of times people tend to attribute other people’s potential for growth whether negative or positive, to the nature of the circles they keep. But truth be told, our networks pose as a doorway to successful connections anywhere around the world. Are the people or partnerships you have, strategically set to grow either you as a person or your brand? Let’s find that out today, shall we?
In today’s world, networking facilitates the exchange of information with like-minded individuals and it has become an essential tool to further careers or brands. Career specialists say about 80% of job vacancies aren’t advertised leaving the majority of the job seekers’ pool to compete for the remainder that is advertised. This shows that for a job seeker, networking can be a doorway to new opportunities.
Your network is your group of professionally aligned friends. The fun thing about the process is that you get to socialize and participate in activities you enjoy. Successful networking usually happens when you go to social settings you feel most comfortable attending. Your network can begin with people you already know and expand to new people through the new forums you will be actively participating in.
To date, big brands are expanding their network to social media persona, to expand their customer base and it is much cheaper advertising with unlimited audience reach. Even celebrities and musicians are collaborating to be in each other’s network. Some ways to expand your network would be to participate in activities that align with your business or brand, reach out to potential contacts via email, or stay in touch with former co-workers, schoolmates, and colleagues.
However, you need to be clear about your goals when forming symbiotic professional relationships to ensure you achieve your marks as you meet other professionals. Is your goal to expand your customer base or referrals and resources or there is another area in your field you want to explore? This is one of the questions you constantly have to ask yourself.
So, it’s not just about having connections, the question is whether they are helping to push your brand or career further or not. Networking is about connecting and understanding the power and true value of relationships, whether in life or business. Someone once said if you were to plan an event or gathering of any kind your phone should be the only resource you need to get everything together. The ability to develop and have long-lasting relationships is one of the greatest rewards of networking, such that every service or product you may need at any given time can just be a stone’s throw away.
Networking opportunities are all around us, taking your schedule for the day, simply choose to carry and seek opportunities that could benefit your business. Volunteering for instance is an excellent way to grow your network and can be a great networking tool. It allows you to expand your skillset and keeps you in the loop for unadvertised opportunities. After you find your game plan and attend events or meetings, follow up on that new relationship. You can use LinkedIn or social media just to cement the conversations you had and then invest in the relationship. The more you learn about a new connection, the easier it will be to offer and get assistance. Such a bond can be formed to join forces in advertising each other’s brands. In today’s world, networking has also become the new marketing tool, you could be a Baker that advertises to your regular coffee shop to supply them pastries because they are lacking on their menu. Promise to bring out samples. That’s one mutually beneficial relationship formed whether it pans out or not. Having the courage to take the leap of faith and putting yourself in spaces that propel you to add value to others and being that someone who always has something to offer.
