While our education system trains us for the most critical skills that help us earn our bread or grow our business, one skill that is the most underrated as well as scantily available in curriculums is how to be a pro at networking. We try to provide a tool kit below in a step-by-step manner that should not only get you started but hopefully take you far!
1. Understand the “Why” as deeply as possible
Given that you have reached this article, it is safe to assume that you understand the need for networking to achieve your goal. But it is important to know the real reason behind this effort. For example, Someone may need to network to get a new job or grow the business or simply learn more about one’s area of interest or all of these. It is imperative that you clearly define the primary goal and leave no ambiguity in your mind as to how will this benefit you directly so that you have clarity of thought while you make efforts to network effectively.
2. Keep it structured and follow the processes
It is very easy to assume that people with great networking skills are those who generally have a knack for striking conversations with the relevant people at the right time. While people may have those conversation skills, everyone who is successful at it makes the effort in a planned and structured manner. Start with a list of people you want to reach out to, identify where will you find them, make your pitch terse and interesting, find your preferred mode of communication such as e-mail or phone call, and keep the follow-ups going. There is a process behind every successful and repeatable skill and as ambiguous and vague as the concept of networking may appear, it can be structured into clearly defined action items.
3. Be a good listener and ask relevant questions
When we are consciously making an attempt to interact with someone important and the moment finally arrives at an event or in a one-on-one discussion, it is bound to create some restlessness and anxiety during the interaction. This may make you be more talkative than you’d want to. Make an effort to suppress the urge and on the flip side, be a good listener. Do not interrupt even if you have a strong opinion, make eye contact and pay close attention. This will lead to relevant questions or opinions in your mind on the topic which can be discussed when you get a chance and thereby giving a solid chance to strike up a conversation.
4. Give it all with zero expectations
Please go with the mindset that networking is about giving. Keep your expectations crystal clear while making the goals and what you want to achieve with the networking but leave them there. As you enter the process and whatever stage you might be in, either the first cold call or a solid face time with the person or group you wanted to be with, have zero expectations in your mind and just focus on making the experience fruitful for the other person or people in question. Networking, just like the universe, has a funny way of giving you results from where you least expect.
Also, when we have no expectations, we are calmer, less anxious, and better listeners and that’s when we put our best foot forward and strike meaningful and productive conversations.
5. Learn where to draw the line
Like every action in life, even networking is a percentage game. You will have your hits and misses, the hits may come from the most unexpected quarters and even the seemingly easiest route may yield a miss. It is important that we know where to draw the line in our follow-ups or attempts to reach out to a person or an organization. This leaves a good impression on the individual or the company and helps immensely when there may be a chance to collaborate at a later stage.
The bad news is, that in today’s age of connectivity, it is difficult to grow without networking skills and collaborating. But the good news is that at the end of the day, networking is a skill which means it can be acquired by making sustained efforts over a period of time just like any other skill. So follow the above processes and go out there and get great at it.