Here's how you can utilize networking for career growth in business innovation.

My absolute favorite thing to do. In this world, we have to treat people more like family and less like objects. The best way to build rapport is to go into every engagement seeking to gain a new friend or family member. Express interest and show genuine curiosity in the ideas that light them up inside while reciprocating your own passion for the ideas that keep you going. Creating these genuine relationships, over time, naturally builds a foundation to be built upon. With this foundation, the likelihood of sharing resources amongst each other grows because the trust has been built and maintained.

O objetivo deste relatório é fornecer insights e orientações sobre como utilizar o networking de forma eficaz para impulsionar o crescimento da carreira em inovação de negócios. A inovação é um campo dinâmico e em constante evolução, e construir uma rede sólida de contatos profissionais pode ser fundamental para encontrar oportunidades, obter conhecimentos e estabelecer parcerias estratégicas.

Social media is your best friend. It’s the best way to grow soft skills to help create new relationships. Engaging with topics or like minded individuals helps expand your community. I always take the authentic approach; I engage online the same way I would in person. I try to show my authenticity by leading with my personality. It helps to disengage anyone from feeling guarded. I truly believe social media was meant to help us learn how to lean on others for support and guidance, while also teaching us how to express ourselves creatively. Aside from business, we’re all human and we all desire connection. Social media is another tool to foster those genuine connections that we desire. Especially when done correctly.

Form my experience - though it sounds quite simple - people often tend to network focusing on the return they receive rather than starting a conversation by trying to provide value without any expectations :)

“Curiosity leads to the greatest forms of innovation” - one of my favorite things to say. Innovation doesn’t exist without being curious. Staying in the “know” of industry trends is a great way to grow your network. Seek out top players in the industry, attend webinars, in person conferences, set up google alerts with industry keywords, read articles/stay educated, and connect with other people who can help you navigate your interests. There’s nothing more rewarding than exploring your curiosity for things that fill you with passion — opportunities magically appear and breakthroughs are inevitable. It’s a great lose-lose, or should I say win-win 😉. Can’t go wrong either way. You learn and grow your network, regardless. That IS innovation.

The follow up is most important! This keeps the relationship alive. Treat them like family. Share in their successes, reach out on important days, offer to meet or catch up over the phone. It’s through these genuine connections that the most value arises. Life will always be a long-term game, so having genuine relationships and connections that grow through time is necessary. Plus it feels good to reconnect with people you’ve met along the way. It’s fun to share the journey amongst each other. Best case, you gain extended career opportunities and worst case, you gain a friend for life.