Networking for Success - Part 1

What is Networking?

Networking is vital for business and personal success. Everyone needs to network: business owners, employees, job seekers. But how can you get the most of out networking, and ensure that it is enabling you to achieve your goals? In this series of three articles we are going to examine the principles of networking and how you can get the most out of the networking you do.

Article one examines this concept of networking and aims to give us a definition of the term networking, and examines the traits of an effective networker. Article two shows us how to identify our network. While the final article in the series, looks at the rules and etiquette of networking and shows us how to develop a networking strategy.

Before we look at identifying our network and developing a networking strategy, we need to know what networking is and isn’t.

Networking is not about attending as many organised events as possible, and picking up all available business cards. Attending events is an important step in the networking process, it is the beginning of our networking cycle.

The dictionary definition of networking is “a system of elements, either lines or channels, that cross in the manner of the threads in a net”. This conjures up images of inter-twined lines linking different points together.

Essentially this is what effective networking is too. Business networking is about building links and professional relationships between individuals. These individuals can come from your personal or professional life. They can be people you have done business with or individuals you would like to do business with.

People such as Mary McAleese, Bill Clinton and Bono have often been cited as effective networkers. But what is it about these people that makes them so good? More importantly what can we learn form them to improve our own networking skills?

Effective networkers have the unique ability to be able to both mingle and meet lots of people in a relatively short space of time, while also making close and personal contact in the moment when they speak with another person. These people understand that it is not the quantity of time but the quality and engagement that are important when we meet people.

To be effective when networking, it is essential that we make people feel valued, actively listen to what the person is saying, ask them questions and in general be warm and welcoming.

When attending networking meetings and events, it is vitally important that we consider our personal impact on people we meet. The key items for us to think about include:

What is your level of ease in meeting new people?
What impact and qualities you would hope to portray when meeting a new person?
What happens to your body language i.e. tone and pitch of voice, eye contact when you meet a new person?
What kind of handshake do you offer?

To be an effective networker you need to be open minded, as you never know who the person you have just met knows or the contacts they have. Developing an effect network is a process which takes time and commitment. The key to success is about building strong, trustful and mutually beneficial relationships.

If you have any queries about the content of this article, would like to discuss the issues raised in it or would like articles 2 and 3 in the series, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Orla Doyle, Training Manager, Innovo Training and Development, odoyle@innovotraining.ie