Achieve Your Goals Through Networking

“Your network is your net worth.”

Porter Gale, Entrepreneur 

Nowadays, cultivating a successful career mainly occurs through effective networking. By having a solid network, the journey to expanding your personal brand, connecting with professionals, exchanging expertise, and finding aspiring careers has become much more accessible. 

An effective network is not built upon introducing yourself and exchanging pleasantries. It is obtained via meaningful relationships that you make over the years. It requires a great deal of time, effort, and persistence to grow the roots. 

The purpose is to make new friends and industry-related acquaintances, and quite possibly find your prospective colleagues or employees among the people who share your profession, interests, hobbies, or education. Networking is a potent tool that can get you really far on your career path.  

Human beings are meant to thrive in groups, not individually. Every day, we meet new people on the street, at work, or at university. However, we only form attachments and relationships with those with whom we have something in common. 

Regardless of the differences, people tend to find comfort in familiar things, and when you see someone who understands you as well as you understand them, you know that you have found something special. 

Making a connection occurs in various communication channels. Either via social media, mutual friends or coworkers, at school, or workplace, making new connections and forming a network help us grow in our careers much easier. 

Some people find networking difficult and intimidating. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that it becomes a catalyst that contributes to your growth and success, opening the doors of opportunities that previously were out of reach. For instance, you may get referred to your dream job via a solid professional relationship.

There are a few primary reasons why networking is so important:

• Contributing to social well-being
• Helping you meet people with different professional levels
• Exchanging new ideas and expanding horizons
• Improving your professional confidence

You may understand the influence of networking in various aspects of life but don’t know how to develop such relationships. An experienced friend or coworker around you can give you many tips on making effective networks. So, don’t be shy to ask people for advice on the matter. On the other hand, some generally known practical tips can put you on the right track.

Celebrating New Achievements

The most effective way to develop a relationship is to show that you really care. When someone you know lands a new achievement, make sure to notice and comment about it. Letting people know that you see their accomplishments and are willing to celebrate with them shows them that you are sincere.

Many people share their professional moments and successes on LinkedIn and maybe other social media platforms. Whenever you see their announcements, make sure you write a polite and welcoming comment, congratulating them on their achievements. 

It would be a nice gesture to send flowers or cards to the people who are closer to you to celebrate their achievements. Such beautiful gestures that come out of respect and appreciation can go a very long way and become a facilitator to create meaningful relationships. 

Appreciating Support

Being grateful for people’s kindness and what they do for us is an act of respect and good mannerism. It shows that you are not the kind of person who takes people for granted and understands communication and relationship values. Hence, make sure to officially thank someone who has helped you with something or has supported you with something you were going through.

Face-to-face Meeting

A significant part of our relationships is through social media or online. Therefore, making time for people and meeting them in person is essential. Although having an effective online relationship is important, it will never be as effective as a face-to-face meeting.

When you are in the presence of your friend, colleague, or acquaintance, more of your senses are at work. Your comprehension of other people will be more profound and accurate with sensual capacity. That’s why meeting in person can create stronger relationships.

Engaging with Content

We are living in an interconnected world that is centered around social media. It works a lot when you engage with the content that they share. When you interact with other people’s social media accounts, it will pave the way for their impression on the platform. Also, engaging with people’s content contributes to building effective networks, especially considering the diversity. 

Communicating Regularly

Being constantly connected with people knowing about their professional status and well-being, are important aspects of strong relationships. Hence, it is essential to communicate regularly. Another aspect of constant communication is that you get to know the available opportunities and stay updated with what’s going on in other fields and industries. 

Suggesting Guidance

Don’t be afraid to share your knowledge and experience with people. Suggesting guidance adds a lot to your credibility and boosts your branding by showing the depth of your capabilities. Some people think that teaching others the tricks of the trade would increase the number of competitors. However, that is not the truth. 

Offering your guidance to someone who needs it is one of the best ways to expand your network. The people you have helped once may help you some other time in the future or provide you with opportunities that address your potential or contribute to your progress. 

Another way that you can help others is to share content that can help someone you know. If you think specific content adds value to your industry or community, make sure you share it along with the message that you have in mind. Such acts place you in the know and simultaneously add to your value. 

One Last Word

Our relationships reflect on us directly. In other words, when you make an effort to add value to your relationships and bring culture to the environments that you are a part of, as a result, you will make relationships and networks. A strong network can turn your world upside-down by incorporating a bridge to new possibilities.