Hacks and networking
Your network is your net worth.
When people think about networking, they imagine themselves walking around a big event, trying their best to be extroverted. They think about shaking hands and exchanging business cards, with the hope that sometime in the not-so-distant future an unbelievable opportunity will fall right into their lap.
That’s not real networking, and that’s why we tend to have such an issue with attending “networking events.”
Because the truth is, people don’t like “being networked.” Nobody likes the idea of shaking hands with someone and there being this underlying expectation of, “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” It just feels contrived.
But networking doesn’t have to be this painful. In fact, there are plenty of things you can do to make building valuable professional relationships a habit, not just when you need something.
Here are a few counterintuitive networking hacks to try.
Make friends, not contacts.
Let’s say you need an in at a big company and you know someone there. If that person is nothing more than a business card you picked up at a networking event, what are the chances he or she will actually end up being able to provide you the value you’re looking for? Probably very slim. Maybe you never know. But not super likely.
But if your contact is a friend, someone you speak with on a somewhat regular basis, someone with whom you’ve grabbed coffee and connected over a shared love for sci-fi movies, etc., the person will feel so much more compelled to help you.
Reason being: You’re 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.
What we are proposing is that you genuinely open yourself up to other people and connect in an emotional way. Share your goals, share your aspirations, share your hopes and dreams and what challenges you’re currently facing, and then let them do the same.
Which leads us to networking hack No. 2 …
Listen, because not many people do it.
Want to know one of the best networking hacks in the world?Listening.
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, genuinely 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.
They will respect you because you have the patience and maturity to actually listen.
Ask for an introduction
This is such an undervalued way of meeting new people. 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, even if it’s, “This is a friend of a friend of a friend and I think you two should meet,” that will always be better than a cold email or phone call.
You don’t need to be the life of the party to make connections that will propel your career. Very few of us are born charismatic networkers, but with some time and practice you can become really good at it. The great news is that it is possible to acquire this skill set and develop a comfort level exercising it. Just practice those hacks next time you network and observe the difference.
Do you have networking hacks that work well for you? Share them with us in the comments.
