Sanjay Sehgal, CEO of MSys Technologies, an entrepreneur, startup advisor, keynote speaker and philanthropist.
In business, people do not work for or bond with a company or team. People work for people. Years ago, in Atlanta, I met a managing partner of a law firm at an event. He wasn’t connecting with people solely for networking purposes. He was genuinely building connections. He used to interact with people and advise them from a legal POV. He sounded credible, as he was not pitching his business in every conversation. Eventually, I trusted him for some legal advice for my business and referred some of my close associates to him.
That is why I feel that building meaningful connections matters. From being mentored to exploring opportunities, the right connections are crucial to helping you make informed decisions. They can also fuel sales and increase word-of-mouth referrals. In short, if you are looking for a credible way to market yourself and drive sustainable growth, building connections and making them count is the way to go.
However, the most important question is how you can build such a network. But for that, you need to understand what network creation is and how it can be beneficial for your work or business.
Most of the time, a chance encounter at a business event or an introduction to someone in the same line of work or industry can become a path to new opportunities. The only thing that can change this initial encounter to something more impactful is the intention. Networking is specifically about connecting with people in the same line of work—or inside and outside your industry—intending to build lasting relationships. Forging these mutually beneficial relationships can help you professionally and personally, offering growth in specific areas. Beyond any surface-level familiarity, this process can create meaningful and enduring relationships that can open doors, provide mentorship and help build exponential growth in careers and finances.
While the purpose of networking is to experience growth and support for that, approaching it with a single-minded intention is not the right way. It is crucial to recognize that networking is a mutually beneficial rapport. Hence, instead of focusing on the “benefits,” the main thing should be building a trusting relationship that can be leveraged for partnership, collaboration, mentorship and even connections to a bigger network.
The Keys To Good Networking
Building a network is not just about knowing the right people from the right places. It is about forging a bond. For that, there are certain qualities that you will have to acquire so that you can build a strong network that can benefit you when you need it to.
• Authenticity: Authenticity is the first quality that you need to embody if you want to have a network of trustworthy people who, in turn, can trust you, too. Your authenticity makes you credible, and that will help others connect with you.
• Active Listening: As mentioned earlier, networking is a mutually beneficial relationship. Hence, only talking about your challenges or needs won’t work. You need to develop the habit of active listening. This is the only way you can understand if you can also help associates in your network.
• Consistent Communication: Consistency in communication is required to maintain a long-lasting bond with your network. This will not only include being in each other’s LinkedIn network but also initiating active calls and messages at regular intervals, putting in effort to be at the same event or place to have face-to-face interactions and so on.
Networking Tips To Make Every Connection Count
Focus On Building An Attractive Résumé
Informal events and opportunities are the best places to meet people who can be a part of your network. While building your network, you can share your résumé immediately. You can take it a step further and share your portfolio to showcase not only your qualifications but also some of your notable work. This way, you will be opening a gate for new work opportunities as well as collaborations.
Diversify Your Network
The network you are building should not only be focused on one location or one industry. The more you limit the network, the more opportunities for business, collaboration and growth will decrease. Your network should have a diversity of cultures, backgrounds, professional platforms, industries and even ages. A Gen-Z connection can be a good teacher for Baby Boomers who want to manage their work-life balance, and Millennials have been the best people to show me how to do both hard and smart work to be successful. Everyone’s perspective counts.
Offer Value
Think of successful networking as a two-way street. You are connecting with people from whom you can potentially benefit. These people are connecting with you for the same reason. So, think about the value you can offer. Focus on your expertise, experience and knowledge to understand how your networking can create mutually beneficial relationships for you and your network.
Choose A Mentor
The truth is, when you’re navigating through the corporate world while focusing on growth, finances and building meaningful connections, you will feel overwhelmed—and rightfully so. You will not always have the clarity that you require about what to do and how to collaborate or with whom to partner. The trickiest part is often making the right financial decisions. In such situations, having a mentor can help you immensely. They can provide you with guidance and support that will help you accomplish your goals and make informed decisions.
Meaningful connections are created through a clear self-understanding of why you’re networking, staying true to yourself, adding value to others and creating a diverse group of contacts. It’s not only about what you stand to gain but equally about what you can give. Continuously push and stretch past known boundaries, embrace new opportunities and relationships and nurture them, whether they’re personal and professional.
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