How can you use deadlines to network effectively?

1 Why network with deadlines?

Networking is not just about exchanging business cards or attending events. It is about creating and maintaining meaningful connections with people who can help you achieve your career goals, and who you can also help in return. Deadlines are natural occasions to network, because they create a sense of urgency, relevance, and value. For example, if you are working on a project with a deadline, you can network with your team members, your clients, your stakeholders, and your mentors by communicating effectively, showing your skills, and delivering quality work. If you are looking for a job or a promotion, you can network with potential employers, recruiters, or decision-makers by following up, expressing your interest, and demonstrating your fit.

2 How to network before a deadline?

Before a deadline, you can network by reaching out to people who can offer you support, guidance, or feedback. For example, you can ask for advice from a mentor, a colleague, or a professional contact who has expertise or experience in the area you are working on. You can also seek feedback from your clients, your stakeholders, or your peers on your progress, your challenges, or your ideas. When you network before a deadline, you should be respectful, clear, and specific. Respect their time and availability, and avoid asking for too much or too late. Be clear about your purpose and your expectations, and avoid being vague or ambiguous. Be specific about your deadline, your goals, and your needs, and avoid being general or irrelevant.

4 How to network after a deadline?

After a deadline, you can network by following up with people who were part of or affected by your work. For example, you can thank your team members, your clients, your stakeholders, or your mentors for their collaboration, their feedback, or their support. You can also ask for feedback from them on your performance, your results, or your areas of improvement. You can also share your learnings, your insights, or your recommendations for future work. When you network after a deadline, you should be genuine, constructive, and open. Be genuine by expressing your gratitude, your satisfaction, or your concerns sincerely, not mechanically. Be constructive by highlighting your strengths, your achievements, or your opportunities, not your weaknesses, your failures, or your threats. Be open by listening to feedback, learning from feedback, and acting on feedback, not dismissing, defending, or ignoring feedback.

6 How can you improve your networking skills with deadlines?

Networking with deadlines is a skill that you can develop and improve through practice and feedback. To do so, you can learn from successful networkers by observing and emulating how they use deadlines to create and nurture relationships, and then asking them for tips or suggestions. Moreover, it's important to seek feedback from your network on how you communicate, deliver, and follow up. Additionally, you should experiment with different approaches, methods, or tools to network with deadlines and adapt accordingly to see what works best for you and your network.