Here’s why networking is good for you
- Networking is an art that needs to be learnt
- Here's how you can begin if you are a novice
FollowThere’s lot more to networking than meets the eye. The term ‘networking’ often evokes the heebie jeebies in a person, but it doesn’t have to.
Networking is not just about favours or getting something in return. In a way, it’s like being a salesman; except you’re selling you, as a brand.
It’s a habit that needs to be cultivated. There are no short-term gains, but there are long-term returns if you keep at it.
In this day and age, it is important to cultivate a network of people by nurturing and sustaining relationships because you never know when there will be a time when the both of you mutually benefit from each other – either directly or indirectly.
Are you a novice at networking? Here are some handy ways to break into the networking world.
Observe: It’s going to be intimidating, so take a friend who’s been around events like this, and observe people around you. It will be an eye-opener, and then you’ll know the dos and donts at a networking event.
Be committed: Like most things in life, you need to be present and committed a 100%. It shouldn’t be one of those things that catches your fancy, and then you leave it midway.
Don’t fixate on titles: When you network, treat everybody as an equal. Preferential treatment based on one’s title will not look good on you. You’ll just come across as an opportunist.
Engage: When you communicate with other people, be engaging and warm. Be genuinely curious as to what the other person has to offer.
Reconnect: If a conversation has gone really well, you must follow-up via a call or an email or any social platform. It could be over an article that you’ll bonded over or an area of interest that was discussed.
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