8 Tips To Expand Your Professional Network
A solid professional network can be one of your most valuable assets. Whether you’re an entrepreneur trying to get the word out about your business or a top professional at a large multinational corporation, your professional network can help you ascend to the next phase of your life. What’s more is that as your network compounds, each person you’ve connected with potentially brings their entire network to your disposal too!
Tips for Widening Your Network
A vast majority of critical jobs are filled through networking of some sort. These jobs are never publicly listed but filled via networking and internal references. Thus, the importance of networking is clearly put in perspective. Here are eight tips to expand your professional network and keep climbing the career ladder:
Understand Your Objectives
The first and most crucial step is figuring out what you want from your network. Are you looking to connect with more customers, have an informal advisory board, or find fresh ideas? Once you outline your purpose, you will know where to focus your efforts concerning communication.
Join Online Forums
Business- and job-related sites like LinkedIn and Indeed have helpful forums for networking and discussions. Practice your delivery and pitches on social media, and tweak it based on the response you receive. You can build connections worldwide; moreover, you will be better prepared for in-person conversations.
Network Through Family and Friends
While working with your close social group is usually a bad idea, it is also important to remember that they are a networking resource. You may come across people in their network whom you may not have had a chance to connect with otherwise. Taking advantage of such opportunities builds new connections while cementing existing relationships.
Connect With Former Coworkers
If you have a good relationship with your previous company, consider connecting with your ex-colleagues and bosses. Even if you don’t “gain” anything from these connections professionally, you can catch up on old times and check in to see what’s new about their jobs and the company. If they’ve moved to a new role, potential networking opportunities may await you.
Join Professional Networking Organizations
Apart from joining groups and forums online, you can check out professional organizations and networking clubs in your area. Your career growth will be exponentially faster when you meet and connect with more like-minded people.
Connect Outside Your Field
Networking within the industry is great, but making connections outside the circle is equally vital for growing your professional outreach. Taking such a step will help you gain knowledge outside your immediate field and learn more about other professions, broadening your horizons and even leading to a potential inflection point.
Participate in Community Programs
Volunteering for community-development activities is a great way to network with other professionals. With this initiative, your professional network grows outside your immediate industry. You can foster a deeper connection with people by working next to them that you may not be able to form in a different environment.
Practice Small Talk
Many of us are inherently uncomfortable with making small talk with a stranger. To overcome this discomfort, practice your conversing technique by finding something in common, showing genuine interest in the other person, knowing how to leave the conversation, and sharing contact information. The goal of such an engagement is to engage the other person, so ask open-ended questions and discuss with a bit of give-and-take to know each other better.
The strength of your network can chart the course of your career progression. Expanding your reach is no overnight process, so plant the seeds wisely and watch them grow steadily to propel you toward your goals.