CEO of Creative Duality and Co-Founder & CEO of Fyli.
One of the most vital and often overlooked strategies for success on this wild ride is networking and building long-lasting relationships throughout your professional career. The term “networking” started to appear as a recognized activity in 1936 by author Dale Carnegie in his best-selling book “How To Win Friends & Influence People.” Earlier, networking had a negative connotation thought of as exploitation, but, over the years, it has developed into an essential part of conducting business.
Networking in today’s world requires mutual participation—it’s a two-way street. Engaging in networking empowers an entrepreneur to craft a distinctive image in the market, fostering credibility and brand recognition. By actively participating in industry gatherings, conferences and networking affairs, entrepreneurs have the opportunity to spotlight their business and cultivate valuable connections with potential clients and collaborators.
Networking helped me secure my first job in college by attending an industry event, sharing my business card—at the time it was titled ”Student” with my contact details. I felt a sense of confidence and pride giving it out and exchanging information and conversations with more accomplished individuals. I was inquisitive, collected as many business cards as I possibly could, and always followed up within 24 hours. My success was in the follow up, and most importantly, building a connection.
My top four tips for attending a networking event:
1. Have a digital business card, QR code or use a piece of technology like NEMO.io to exchange information and contact details. Digital cards make the process more efficient and are easily stored when you need to refer back.
2. Have a firm and confident handshake, make eye contact and lead with an approachable smile—this goes a long way. Physical body language plays a big role in networking.
3. Keep the conversation flowing by asking questions and not dominating by only talking about yourself. Don’t be an energy vampire.
4. Follow up. This is the most important thing to remember. I suggest an email or LinkedIn message within 48 hours of the initial interaction to keep things top of mind. Lead with something you discussed so it is easy for the other person to remember. For example, “I really enjoyed our conversation discussing advancements in AI, would love to continue this over a coffee or tea soon!”
Being in the right room, at the right time, with the right mindset can completely shift your professional trajectory and overall life path. Your network is your net worth, and if you are not out there building bridges, you will likely be left behind. People often ask me, “How do you know so many people, and how do you have all of these professional connections?” My response is no secret: I network. My strategy is to learn about their backgrounds, family life, culture, what makes them tick, their goals, and then keep them in mind for opportunities or ways I can genuinely help them on their own journey. You can do it too!
The different types of networking:
Business Groups
These groups are primarily focused on peers building referrals, sharing advice/strategies and swapping information about a particular industry or topic. They usually meet weekly or monthly and you are free to participate as long as you make the time and effort to show up.
Professional Associations
This type of networking group is specific to a particular industry that focuses on sharing ideas, exchanging high-value resources and connections. Most professional associations have a membership fee, and their group is vetted—meaning you have to meet certain industry credentials. These groups often lead to new business, an increase in your professional rolodex, and a boost in your overall visibility within your industry.
Community Service Organizations
Community organizations are focused on donating time and effort to specific causes. These groups are often formed around a shared mission, core values and contributions to society. They are less about business and sales.
Social Media Networks
Social media networking has quickly become one of the fastest and easiest ways to grow your inner circle, stay in contact with your peers, share information and build your brand. Through channels like LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, you can pretty much contact anyone in the world. Although keep in mind these connections are virtual, and it’s still important to build social skills and IRL experiences with your community.
Now that you understand the different types of networking, take some time to evaluate which ones you have been focused on in your entrepreneurial career. Set a goal to cover all four of these and take notice of which type is adding the most value to your path forward. This will help you prioritize your time, effort and energy on your own personal networking journey.
Here are some helpful conversation starters when you are in a networking situation, whether it’s a business group, professional association or community service organization. Instead of coming in hot with “What do you do?” I suggest asking the following questions to get the conversation flowing and build a bridge:
1. What are you most passionate about?
2. What is bringing you the most joy on your journey?
3. What milestone or accomplishment are you celebrating this week?
4. Tell me more about your journey, how did you get to where you are today?
5. What are you currently reading or listening to?
In conclusion, networking is important because it leads to new opportunities, including jobs, business partnerships, collaborations and clients. It offers a way to share knowledge and exchange ideas, sparking creativity and forward thinking. Networking builds your credibility and personal brand, it fosters your growth as an entrepreneur and helps expand your horizons and perspective. Most importantly, it’s a built-in support system for your journey, which can get lonely.
Level up your game, expand your community and go beyond just a handshake.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
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