How can you create an effective networking plan?

You don't need to network unless you want to. Therefore the question of "why" is really important as it will determine who are the people you need to be networking with. For example, if you want to work with startups, there is little benefit in networking with leaders of large corporations

Finding your “why” is essential to stay motivated networking. At times you may not make the connections you hope for, and networking takes time. If you can clearly identify your motivation, you will be able to stay focused even when growth seems slow. Are you: - Looking for career advice? - Look for job opportunities? - Trying to find a mentor? - Exploring diverse perspectives? Getting clear on your why sets up your networking efforts for success

It's important to consider how you can be mutually beneficial and consider this in your approach. A potential contact may not instantly realise the value of networking with you, so what do you bring that should be attractive to them too

Now that you know who you want to be networking with, it's time to understand what they're about, where do they like to spend time, what are their values, what books to they read. Build a customer personna for your target network to make it easier to stay on track

LinkedIn is the perfect starting place to find a network. - Join groups related to topics you want to learn about - Send connection requests to people with roles you’re interested in - Comment on posts from industry leaders - Message people you want to get to know As you explore and get more familiar with your professional landscape you’ll be able to better target your network over time

Planning your actions is a critical phase in effective networking. Identifying the right methods—be it emails, calls, or attending events—helps you align your actions with your overarching goals. Leveraging various tools like social media and newsletters can amplify your efforts. It's essential to match these tactics with your personal style and availability to ensure you're not stretching yourself too thin. Creating a detailed schedule, complete with deadlines, enables you to keep track of your progress. Equally important is establishing a budget, ensuring that your networking activities are both scalable and sustainable over the long term.

Find a networking schedule that is sustainable to avoid burn out from networking Making new connections requires social battery 🔋 If you’re always hopping on calls, chatting, and meeting new people it’s exhausting trying to keep up with everything. Find a sustainable amount of time to spend in professional channels. If you find yourself burning out, reassess your strategy to keep networking enjoyable.

Building relationships that are meaningful requires one to be authentic, to genuinely be interested in the topics discussed. A relationship is a two way street, you give and take. Make sure in your pursuit to network, you don't forget to give your advice., In the short term you might end up making more connections, but they will slowly fade away

I agree - building genuine connections and relationships is key to networking; otherwise, it feels empty and flat. Or salesy. Showing that you view networking as a 2-way street is incredibly important. If it feels 1-way, again, it's unlikely to be successful. Another important consideration in building relationships is authenticity. Not everyone will want to connect or converse the same way you will. Knowing the best type of connection to make will insure genuine relationships.

Take time to prepare for time spent networking. Look at people’s LinkedIn profiles to get a background on their work history. This will help save precious time skipping over questions like “Where do you work now” or “what is your role?” Allowing you to ask more targeted questions Be patient with yourself as you learn to build professional relationships. Initial chats can be awkward or intimidating at first. The more you network you’ll find systems that work for you and refine them over time.

When asking for feedback, you can get more critical feedback by asking for specific feedback: - What advice do you have to make better use of our time? - In what ways can I give back to you or others? - How can I best express appreciation for the help you’ve given me? Asking for general feedback gives general responses. Specific questions will give specific actions.

This is also a great way to maintain your networking relationships. Send articles or podcast episodes to your network contacts based on your conversations. Post your thoughts on articles on LinkedIn and ask your network for their thoughts.

I believe we always get a lot more when we give back. Build genuine relationships, Be authentic, Offer value and above all show genuine interest in others. This is the key to effective networking.