It’s not what you know, but who you know. Who
you know can mean the difference in whether or not you end up reaching
your future dreams and goals.
There are so many reasons why networking is important, personally and professionally. Whether you want to stand out from the crowd during your job search, rise the ranks at your current company or just have a good support network to be there for you when you need it.
No matter where you are in life, you can’t get around the fact that networking is crucial to your success and personal well being.
1. The first barrier that might be in your way is that you never know what to say. I hate that awkward introduction and I not knowing what to say to people I don’t know. The key here is to be genuine, not think about yourself and what you are going to talk about and instead think about what you want to ask and learn about other people instead. People are just as scared as you in the room and why not make others feel better and take the focus off of you and onto them.
I hope I’ve convinced you of how critical networking is for anyone
considering going pro.
Remember, networking is just the start. What it’s really about is building relationships and making connections.
There are so many reasons why networking is important, personally and professionally. Whether you want to stand out from the crowd during your job search, rise the ranks at your current company or just have a good support network to be there for you when you need it.
No matter where you are in life, you can’t get around the fact that networking is crucial to your success and personal well being.
So what are the barriers that might be holding you back from networking?
1. The first barrier that might be in your way is that you never know what to say. I hate that awkward introduction and I not knowing what to say to people I don’t know. The key here is to be genuine, not think about yourself and what you are going to talk about and instead think about what you want to ask and learn about other people instead. People are just as scared as you in the room and why not make others feel better and take the focus off of you and onto them.
2. Another barrier may be if you are an introvert. An introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people. If
you are an introvert like me, it is hard to be open and let strangers
into your life. To network, you have to be open and curious. You must
also show up and be present in all conversations. Sometimes the hardest
part is getting to the event but you will be glad you did once you get
there. Meet one person and start speaking with them and asking
questions. This way, it will be easier to meet others since you know
one person very well. Also, don't be afraid to speak up if you have
something to say.
3. Another barrier is thinking you are way too busy to network
I know I am exhausted after work. This was my biggest pitfall. I am
often too busy with work and school to reach out and connect with
someone over lunch or a quick dinner. You have to
make networking a priority, which is why I always scheduled networking
events and meetings into my calendar so that I got in the habit of
meeting people for lunch or dinner and not going directly home after
work.
Remember, networking is just the start. What it’s really about is building relationships and making connections.
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