You might be thinking, is creating a network truly necessary? The answer? Yes. Trust me. Okay, so you probably don’t know me (unless you’re my mom – hi, ma!), but I can break it down for you in the coming paragraphs. You want a network. You need a network. Let’s get a network, eh?
What’s a Network?
No, I’m not talking about the internet kind of network if that weren’t clear.
It’s simple, really. A network is a group of connected people. Imagine yourself at the center of a hub with various lines going out to everyone you know. That’s your network. If your network is small, don’t worry. That’s why we’re here.
Creating a network can benefit you – and you’re about to find out why.
How Creating a Network is Beneficial
Why is creating a network so vital to your career success? Because as unfair as it might seem, it can require knowing someone to get moving in the right direction. I hate thinking that getting a particular job is in part because “It’s who you know…” Unfortunately, this phrase has some truth.
Having an amazing resume is always ideal, but it can’t always depict essential components of your personality and skill set. Let’s consider a scenario.
You’ve always been in sales but are considering moving to HR as a recruiter. Unfortunately, working in sales doesn’t mean you are exceptional at selling. Your resume isn’t capable of fully displaying how fantastic you are at negotiating or communicating or making something look desirable.
Spelling out those skills might make it obvious how to recruit people well, but it is always more effective when you’re seen in action. Fortunately, the hiring manager has seen you in action – as a part of your network. You and the hiring manager serve on the board of your children’s hockey team, and he observed as you negotiated hotel room rates for a tournament.
That open recruiter job? Yours.
Creating a network also allows you to have more confidence. You’ll likely be more comfortable with people you know – and a network helps you to know many people who also know people, and suddenly your network is extensive. A network also gives you access to a lot of creative minds and thoughts.
Creating a network can give you an array of options for mentorship and advice opportunities. You can always learn from others – a network allows you to learn from many different people.
How to Create a Network
Creating a network can be a challenging process. It can take some effort, so be prepared to work. You can’t hope for a network to pop out of thin air! Creating a network is a long journey.
1. Start Where You Are
Look around right now. Is there anyone in the room with you? Do you know them? Part of creating a network is starting with who you’re with. If you’re at work, build a network with your coworkers. Where else do you go in a week? Seek people in the locations you spend time in regularly:
- Church
- Your kids’ sports events
- The gym
- The grocery store
- Your neighborhood
You can find so many people with so many different experiences in those places you already spend a lot of time in. Don’t expect to include a major CEO or the president of the country to join your network right off the bat (although it is possible if you keep working at it!). Start creating a network where you are.
2. Learn Names
Are you the kind of person who calls everyone by a generic nickname, “Hey, buddy!” or “Nice to see you again, friend!” You might think that the person doesn’t realize that you can’t remember their name, but after a while, they will most certainly discover the truth. Learn their names, and you’ll make them feel special. Then, they’ll want to be in your network!
If you’re bad with names, Jim Kwik talks about a fantastic way to remember names. He says to relate the name to an image or object. By making an association, you’re more likely to remember their name. For instance, if you want to remember the name George Ball, you might imagine Curious George, the monkey, playing with a ball.
Of course, not all names can be associated with images in your brain. So, when you hear someone’s name the first time, remember to repeat it a few times throughout the conversation. Then, the name is more likely to stick.
And stop saying you’re bad at names!
3. Make Time
“Creating a network is time-consuming. I don’t have that time to waste.”
Here’s the thing, friends. If creating a network is important to you, you’ll find the time. How do you do that? Making time requires eliminating something else from your schedule.
You might hire someone if you spend a few hours every weekend maintaining your landscaping.
If you take 30 minutes daily to figure out what you will make for dinner, create a plan and save yourself a few hours weekly.
Maybe you wait in the drive-thru line for 10 minutes every morning for a coffee. Make the coffee at home, and you get an extra ten minutes to converse with your coworkers.
There is time to do what is important. Cut out what’s not.
4. Begin with Outside Interests Firsts
It can be easier to network with people you work with. When you’re branching out and adding people to your network who are not employed by the same organization, it can be helpful to skip the work talk. What interests does that person have outside of work?
Do they enjoy rock climbing? Ask them about it! Do they share a love of painting? Talk about your favorite paint products! Find out what they like to do and listen to their passion.
Even when developing a professional network, you should aim to get to know people personally. The personal connection goes deeper and has more of a root. Everyone needs good connections in life.
5. Stick it Out
Creating a network is challenging. Sometimes it feels easier to drop someone out of your network (even when you really need them) than to work on the relationship. Don’t. Stick it out and keep going. If apologies must be made, make them. If awkwardness must be trampled, trample it. Just don’t give up.
I recently read about this in Jennie Allen’s book Find Your People. Fantastic stuff, by the way!
6. Focus on Difference Makers
Once you’ve got a network beginning, try to connect with different makers more than others. Difference makers are those who can truly impact you and the lives of others. This might be someone who works in your dream job, has connections with people you only dream of knowing, or has a lot of industry experience.
It seems manipulative to develop a relationship solely because of the individual’s ability to make a difference. However, I’m not advocating for you to use someone. As I like to say, honesty is the best policy. When creating a network, transparency is essential. Tell them, “I’d like to learn more about your work. Can we chat?”
7. Before You Ask
Listen, friends. You’ve got to give a little to get a little. That means putting yourself out there first. Offer to do something for someone else before you ask them for a favor. HOWEVER, never do something for someone else as a means to manipulate them into doing what you ask of them.
Am I a broken record? I’ll say it again: Let’s avoid using people for your benefit, shall we? Thanks 😉
Relationships and networks require give and take. You can’t expect to always be the taker – so start things off on a good note. Just remember to keep ulterior motives out of it. Offer for the sake of helping someone else, not just because you can get something in return.
8. Create Mutually Beneficial Relationships
Have you ever had a friendship or relationship where one person benefited while the other was just there? Imagine your neighbor discovered you’re in management at a great hotel chain. That hotel chain gives unbelievable discounts to employees and their friends and family, which the neighbor exploits for his own use regularly.
You plan to take advantage of the discount next weekend but need your neighbor to check on your cat during your 3-day weekend trip. The neighbor is too busy to lend a helping hand. That’s fine – you ask your parents to drive the 45 minutes one way to do the job, instead.
The following month, your lawn mower dies a day before you’re hosting a BBQ. You ask your neighbor if you can borrow his…but he says you can’t because it’s not paid off his credit card yet, and he doesn’t want it damaged.
This is far from a mutually beneficial relationship. Creating a network with mutually beneficial relationships is the only kind of network that’s worth the effort.
So, do the opposite of this scenario.
Give as much as you take, or you might notice your network thinning out quickly. Serve, friends.
9. Stay on Top of Industry News
When developing a network, knowing what you’re talking about is best. What might happen if you could only discuss industry trends from when you were in college? If your information is ten years old, you will struggle to communicate with your network about what’s going on in your industry.
Communicating about your industry is a huge priority for most networks. Don’t get stuck in the old news. Keep learning.
10. Always Aim to Add Value
Offering value to people in your network keeps you at the forefront of their minds. Plus, it’s good for them, too! How do you add value to creating a network?
In a network, value tends to come from who you know. When your colleague wants to branch out her blog writing style into an informative novel, and you know a guy who works for a major literary publisher, you can add value by introducing the two.
Adding value comes from more than your connections. It can also stem from what you know. If you’re an app developer and someone is struggling with a bug they can’t get past, solving the problem puts you in their network. You’ve added value.
11. Check Out Networking Events
Are you struggling to find people who are also creating a network? Networking events are where you want to be. The point of networking events is to connect with various people – people who also want to connect with other people. If you are creating a network, attending networking events is a must.
12. Branch Out to Social Media
As horrible as social media can be at times, using it for networking can work (if you do it right). LinkedIn has created a platform where you are creating networks intentionally. The struggle comes with developing these connections further in the real world.
Start with social media, but don’t let those relationships stay on social media. Ask a few connections to coffee for a chat, or even a 20-minute video call can get you started. Use social media for your good!
13. Develop Meaning in Your Network
It sounds corny. I know it sounds corny. Developing meaning in a network sounds like a cheesy after-school special. But wouldn’t you be more likely to stay connected in a network that has real meaning?
I want to be a part of networks with goals and movement and some kind of connecting backbone.
Creating a network with meaning requires honesty about why you’re developing your network. “I’m creating a network to connect people who want to help each other and marginalized people.” or “I’m creating a network for people who love a great cause; can we chat over coffee next week?” Meaning is essential to great networks.
14. Keep in Touch
When you meet someone and you use one another’s skill sets to better your project, don’t let them get away after everything is complete! Obviously, don’t kidnap anyone. What I mean is, keep in contact!
You don’t have to become best friends or text daily to keep in touch with your contacts. Send an email or a text or call once a month and check-in. Ask about current projects, and if they have any needs for a professional, you might get them in touch. When you expand your network, you might have to change your timeline for checking in – 6 weeks is still acceptable between communications.
Strong networks keep in touch. Don’t let good people slip through your fingers!
Don’t Skip Networking
Creating a network is so vital to long-term success and growth. While you could get by independently, you don’t have to! Connect with people. Learn from people. Grow with people. Creating a network is a task you won’t regret.