Strategies for Networking
What are the best strategies for successful networking today?
By Lenka Davis
How has networking changed since the Covid pandemic?
What are the best strategies for successful networking today?
“Interactions with strangers and acquaintances, they found, make us happier and lead to a greater sense of belonging.”
There are less in-person business and social gatherings, events, and meetups than there were before Covid-19 pandemic. The statistics show that professional and personal networks shrunk 16% during the pandemic (HBR, February 2021)
There are more virtual events such as video conferences and webinars. It is difficult to leisurely walk around a room and decide who to talk to when you are in front of your computer. The benefit of being on your computer is that you can do research on who you want to talk to and you can take notes of the presentations.
Use any type of event, either business or personal, to get to know people. Remember it’s hard for many people to get back into the swing of things so know that you are helping not just yourself but others as well in getting conversations going.
Benefits: Your location is no longer a big barrier
Cons: Less events in general and attendance is lower
How can you make the few events that you attend either virtual or in-person work best for you?
Strategies for Networking
1. Pick the right events
Attending relevant events for you specifically, is efficient in connecting with the right people, and keeps your knowledge of the industry fresh. Pick a mixture of events that cover topics you are interested in along with some that relate to your area of expertise.
Mixing it up between in person and virtual events is important. There are benefits from meeting people face to face including people being able to find out more about each other on a personal level, these intangible results of talking to someone when you are both in the same room are worth a lot. How you get along with someone and what you have in common matter if you are going to be doing business with them for years. I am a big proponent of in person events and enjoy meeting people this way.
2. Set Goals
Thinking about your goals before you attend the event helps you focus on who you want to talk to and what conversations you want to have with them. Your long term goals might be to find a co-founder, a job or to get to know a friend of a friend you have heard a lot of good things about. The steps you take before you get to that point are critical to finding the right person or job.
Simple goals are the best, such as exchanging contact information with one person in your industry, learning more about the organization that is putting on the event, or having a question that you ask each person you meet. A question could be something such as, “I am looking to update our company website, do you have a reliable web developer?”, or “I am doing research on AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning), do you know anyone in this field?” Or you just might need a reliable dog sitter. In the end you are building relationships in your industry, or finding clients or partners or friends.
3. Give before you receive
Have something to offer and have a request ready. Offer before asking for help, by sharing knowledge and expertise, or offering to make introductions.
4. Follow up
Thank them for their time and tell them how much you appreciate their time after the event. Be genuine and interested in others by asking them questions about them and what they do. Remember that body language matters especially when you are on a video call.
5. Build a network online
LinkedIn is the professional social networking platform initially built to find jobs. It has become so much more than that. Connect with people you enjoyed working with and your friends and family. There are other online groups and organizations that may apply to your industry. More industry and targeted groups are forming platforms that are invite only, from Elpha, a network targeted towards women in the workplace and helping them succeed, to paid platforms for executives, for example. Do some research and find out what appeals to you.
6. Life is short so hang out with people you like
In the end, keep in regular contact with the people who you enjoy socializing with and have genuine conversations with on topics that interest you.
Network the way that works best for you. As the Harvard Business Review article found,
“women’s networks haven’t shrunk nearly as much as men’s”
because “women’s natural networking style is giving them an advantage during the pandemic. Women talk to maintain emotional closeness. They talk face to face, they talk on the phone, and they message one another.” You would be happy to know that people tend to be pleasantly surprised when you reach out to someone that you have not connected with in a long time. Find a good way to connect, either by a quick text or a fun activity to do together.
“Instead of talking, men ‘do things together.’ They play sports. They drink. They fish. They play bridge. But they don’t talk.”
No matter what it looks like, networking is necessary not just for business but for your life too. Bring a friend along to events helps you feel more connected and comfortable. You also have someone else to chat with as the other guests arrive.
7. Be prepared
Bar codes or business cards, have at least some way that you can quickly connect with people you meet. Online personal branding is more important than before if you have an online presence. Profile branding and the content you put out there are better when posted by you then random information the internet associates with you.
Fun Fact
The elevator pitch “reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.” There are several famous stories of how founders of startups captured the attention of potential investors, partners, or collaborators to get funding or be accepted into their programs. Airbnb’s Brian Chesky did this in a hotel lobby, and Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn got his opportunity at a party. Elevator pitches don't’ have to be in an elevator but they need to be just as short as an elevator ride.
