Ahead of hosting a networking panel at Arab America’s CONNECT: Empowerment Summit, Derek Dickow discusses networking and its impact on Arab Americans, along with his own involvement in the community. Read more >>
When was the last time you dedicated serious effort into networking?
Maybe it was in college when you were focused on landing that all-important, first post-grad job in your chosen field. Maybe it was when you were in a previous job and wanted to line up your next role. Perhaps it’s when you needed to reach a sales goal.
While these are considered traditionally acceptable times to network, there’s something off about the timing – it was already too late.
Here’s the thing about networking: The best time to network is before you need it.
Think about it. Trying to forge meaningful connections and provide your contacts with value is difficult when you are in a time crunch and searching for employment yourself. It feels forced — which it probably is. The best connections — just like friendships and relationships — take time.
And you really want to align yourself with people who reflect your values, goals, and ambitions.
All of this is to say you should be networking now, whether you need it or not. Because you’ll never know who you can run into and what doors they can open for you. Plus, you should take time to maintain your current connections.
You should always be looking for new people to meet. Remember, 75% of networking is done before you show up to the event — that means taking the time to research who you want to meet, finding points of commonality, develop questions to ask, etc.
You might even be maintaining a network without even knowing it! Do you keep in touch with former coworkers or college classmates? Are you a part of an industry group? Do you attend continuing education classes in your line of work? All of these things help you create and maintain your network.
Building a network takes time, planning and effort. And the best time to do it is before you actually need it. Trust me, it’s worth the effort. When it’s time for you to shift into a new role, seek out sales leads or aim for another transition, your network will be ready.
Derek Dickow is passionate about facilitating high-level introductions for his business and political clients. He joins Jeff Heggie of The Jeff Heggie Show to discuss how others can facilitate those connections for themselves in a variety of ways. Listen to the full interview >>
An athlete wouldn’t walk onto the turf for the big game without months — maybe years — of training and practice. A CEO wouldn’t go into the biggest shareholder meeting of the year without reviewing the company’s performance and prepping extensively.
So why would you walk into a networking event without preparation?
Preparation comes in many forms. I recommend to clients that they prepare in two different ways: Research prior to the event and Get things together beforehand.
There are two ways researching before networking can help. It can:
First, do some research to identify people you want to meet. Maybe you want to end up in a specific role and would like to meet other people in that same role. Or you want to meet others in your profession. Google is your best friend!
I suggest you find three people to seriously focus on meeting. Once you’ve identified your people, focus on shared interests and points of commonality to build a bond. That will help you build a more meaningful relationship.
Here are ways to do the research:
Now you’ve got some things to talk about with your new connection! It’ll make you feel more confident and it’ll impress the other person – it shows you did your homework.
In all my years of forging connections and introducing people, I’ve developed a toolkit of items I’ll bring to a networking event. Get some small, sleek items you can easily fit into a pocket or purse. You never know what you might need at an event – or who you can meet by sharing them!
For more smart strategies for networking, download my Networking Guide below.
Derek chats with renowned business and personal coach Brian Bartes on his podcast, Life Excellence with Brian Bartes. He reflects on his own path to success and discusses how authentic relationships are essential to business. Listen to the full interview >>
