Senior Events Specialist at Bright Events, Karen Edwards, discusses the importance of building a community through networking.
We all have our thoughts about networking; some of us love it, some of us hate it, some of us don’t have time for it, and some of us couldn’t think of anything they’d rather do less! As a freelancer in the industry, networking is simply something I have to do. I’ve been doing it for almost 10 years, and in that time, I’ve learnt one thing: establishing a strong community around you is essential for success and your sanity! I never feel like I’m working alone; my community gives me trusted peers to bounce ideas off, ask questions to, celebrate successes with, and review the bad times with.
For me, it’s all about connecting with people, whether they’re colleagues, clients, businesses, or friends. It’s about taking time out to chat about life as well as work. It’s about supporting each other, building relationships, recommending and referring, having a voice, and most of all, it’s about finding a community of like-minded individuals.
I know that networking can feel intimidating and overwhelming to start with! The trick is to get the other person talking first then when you feel confident and comfortable in the situation, start talking about yourself and things that interest you – start to find a commonality with the person you’re talking to.
Always make sure that you follow up after networking; this could be as simple as sharing a contact, forwarding an email, or arranging a date to meet up. No matter how it’s done, following up shows you’re motivated and keen to build this relationship.
When you think of networking, what’s the first thing you think of? Standing around in a room full of strangers, trying to sound interesting and making small talk? This might be one way to do it but there are so many other ways…
• Meet for a coffee
• Message over LinkedIn or like and comment on someone’s post
• Send a WhatsApp message (you know how much we all love a WhatsApp group!)
• Join a networking group or special interest group for face-to-face or online meet ups
• Join a group for ‘walkies and talkies’
• Pick up the phone and chat to a friend, peer, or client
• Attend lunches, dinners, conferences, and exhibitions
Whatever the networking situation, the goal is the same: to make yourself stand out and become a trusted partner. Whether you are employed or self-employed, full time or part time, networking plays a role in your day-to-day life. You may not see every interaction with clients, colleagues, and suppliers as networking, but it is. These subtle interactions over the phone, email, and face-to-face as well as the follow ups and the chats at organised events are all networking – all of which build and solidify relationships and help to raise your profile as a trusted partner. Networking should be fun! Find the networking type that suits you and your community will be there.