5 Key Tips for Strategic Networking and Why It Is Necessary For All New Leaders

Does the thought of going around a room and introducing yourself to strangers make you want to break out in a cold sweat, or are you excited about the opportunity to meet new people? When it comes to networking, it’s been my experience that most people either love it or hate it, there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. Regardless of how you feel, being able to network and maintain valuable connections is important for any leader. Anyone can become a strategic networker with practice.

Let’s first define what networking is and what networking is not.

Networking is not sending a generic message to a person over social media asking to connect. Nor is it just handing out your business card to anyone you meet at an event.

Networking is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts”. Some keywords to take note of here: interacting, exchange information and develop contacts.

In a business sense, networking allows you to establish relationships with people and organisations who you want to build a mutually beneficial relationship with.

The Benefits of Networking

Network will:

Build both your professional brand and your organisation’s brand. You will become visible to new people.
Build a source of information that can assist you in the future. You know the saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. I will often reach out to my network for recommendations on services or products I need in my business. Or for an introduction to a contact in a business that I want to introduce my services to.
Expand your own knowledge by being exposed to different views and experiences, and advice. When I was first starting out as a new manager, I joined the local chamber of commerce, and eventually took a position on their board. While it was a volunteer role, I learnt so much from very experienced business owners and managers. I also call this incidental learning – there wasn’t a specific aim or intent in mind, and the learning was unintended, but it was a by-product of my participation.
Develop new opportunities through referrals. Often others within your network (as you have formed a trusted relationship with them) may recommend you or your services to another business.

Types of networking

There are different ways to network such as:

Business events such as seminars, conferences or business luncheons.
Professional or Industry Associations – these associations are often specific to locations or can be industry specific. These associations keep you up to date with trends and changes in your industry or region.
Networking Groups – there’s a nifty website called Meetup that can help you find a group or an event that fits your interest.
Online networking through LinkedIn or Facebook Groups.

A few quick essentials about networking, to get you in the right mindset for network:

You will need to be prepared to introduce yourself. We’ll talk about how to prepare a personal bio or elevator pitch later.
Networking is about providing assistance to others first, be prepared to serve, serve serve!

5 Tips for Strategic Networking

Strategic networking is about being strategic with the development and maintenance of your network. It’s the process of building professional relationships with people and organisations. Developing strategic networks can help individual leaders achieve both their personal and professional goals.

1. Start with the people

This first step here is to start thinking about who should be in your network, and why. Who can you give value to, and who can bring you value. You need to target the types of people you want to network with. You should also think about the different roles people in your network might play such as those who are connectors, mentors, experts and peers.

Once you have an idea of who should be in your network – this will start informing where you should be investing your time. Let’s say you have just started a career in marketing and you want to network with experts and peers in marketing to get up to speed on the latest marketing trends – then you might start looking for an industry association that serves marketers. Or you may have just opened a small cafe in your local town and want to network with other local business owners, in this case a local chamber of commerce might be the best fit.

2. Plan to Netwok

With all things important you need to make time in your calendar to network. If you have joined a chamber of commerce or industry association, obtain a calendar of events and make sure you start attending these events, workshops, seminars and lunches.

3. Follow Up

When you meet someone at an event, be sure to follow up with an email or a phone call. A simple email, or LinkedIn message such as:

“Hi <name>,

It was great to meet you at xx event last night. I am interested to learn about xx of your business and would like to discuss this with you further. Would next Tuesday at 10am be a suitable time for you?”

4. Have a Database

It’s really important to keep track of your contacts, their details and other important information. This allows you to provide their details or refer them onto others who you think might benefit from their products or services and it allows you to be able to reach out to them when you need.

5. Don’t Give Up

Networking does get easier with practice. It’s important not to give, but to continue to practice and reflect on events that you attend.

4 Tips for How to Get The Most Out of A Networking Event

1. Be Prepared

As we said earlier, you will need to be prepared to introduce yourself. One way to improve your confidence in this area is to prepare a quick personal bio or elevator pitch.

Firstly, when introducing yourself it’s best to start with your name and what you do. And when we say “what you do”, not just your job title. Expand a little here, such as “I help businesses recruit high qualified IT specialists” or whatever it is you do. You then might want to say why you are attending the event, such as “I’m really keen to hear the guest speaker’s view on recruiting millennials”. Then, I always like to ask a question, such as “what do you do”, or “why are you attending today”.

Practice your elevator pitch over and over, so you are comfortable saying it.

The next step is to see who is attending. Often event organisers will send out an attendee list. Try and identify at least 2 people that you want to connect with. Research them online, see if you can find a picture of them. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the organiser and ask if they can provide an introduction.

Make sure you have business cards available for the event.

2. At the event

I alway like to arrive early, so I can join in groups as they form. It can be a little daunting walking into a room, and everyone is already in a group and talking. But don’t stress, if groups have formed, it’s ok to ask a group if you can join them. It’s simple, just say “Hi, I’m <Name>, can I join your conversation” Or “Do you mind if I join you”. Once you do this the first time, it becomes easier thereafter. If it’s a seated event, make sure you introduce yourself to the people sitting at your table.

It’s also handy to wear a name tag, so people can see your name. Often events will have name tags available, however always have in your bag, just in case.

Networking events often involve a lot of standing, so make sure you are wearing comfortable clothing.

3. Network, network, network

Start making connections. Give out your business card. Remember, the intent is not just to give out your card, it’s to have meaningful conversations, and make a connection with people.

Make sure you try to move around the room and meet those people you have identified on the list. If you’re speaking with a group, ask if they know the person and can point them out to you.

Have meaningful conversation. Actively listen and ask questions about the other person. Be genuine in your attempt to get to know people.

4. Post the Event

Follow up with those people you met and would like to establish a connection with. We’ve included an email sample above to help you with follow up.

Follow up also means keeping in touch with people in your network that you might have not seen for some time. Be sure to reach out to them via email, a phone call or even a coffee catch up. It’s important that you continue to nurture your network even after it is ‘established’.

Conclusion

Building and maintaining a network is a key step in becoming a leader. As a new manager, the establishment of your network is a foundational element in becoming a high potential executive. Use the point contain in this article to help grow and develop your network.

What’s the one thing you struggle with the most when it comes to networking?