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Learn how to make connections and build relationships

When you are trying to build and develop your career you need to embrace the skill of networking. Networking can be surprisingly effective at helping you to achieve your goals but most of us hold the belief that only close friends and family can be helpful, rather than mere acquaintances.

You may have heard about the theory of the 'Six Degrees of Separation'. This theory hypothesises that anyone can be connected to anyone through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than 6 intermediaries. How can this help you to achieve your goals? The more people you meet, the greater opportunity there is of being connected to someone who can help you.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is stepping outside of your comfortable network of family and friends and expanding your professional network. If you have made the decision to go to a conference or a business meeting, then you need some tips on what you need to do to get the most out of the situation:

  1. Have a 30 second statement about who you are and why you are there planned and practised beforehand, so when you are making introductions for yourself or being introduced, you are not lost for words. This will help to build your confidence, too.
  2. Do some research beforehand about the event, the organisers and the people you are planning to meet.
  3. Have a 'plan of attack' in place; know who you want to meet and seek them out.
  4. Dress appropriately – better to err on the side of conservative/professional.
  5. Take business cards.
  6. Give the person you are talking to your full attention, rather than scanning the room for the next person to talk to!
  7. 'Manners maketh the man' – make sure your manners are impeccable.
  8. Smile!
  9. Get someone else to introduce you to your 'target' if you are too shy to make the introduction yourself.
  10. Follow up with an email or telephone call about a week later.
 
 

Try to make the first move as it shows you are confident. The most important thing is to smile and remember that they are probably just as nervous as you! Some good ways to start are:

"Hello, my name is Martin, we haven't met have we?"

"Hello, my name is Hilary. I've just arrived and don't seem to know anyone here - are you in the same boat?"

Both these approaches allow the other person to connect and give simple responses. Use open questions to get the conversation going - what, who, why, where, when and how - so you might say:

"Where have you travelled from today?" or "How did you meet the sponsor?"

Always make sure your conversation stays positive, too. If you make comments such as "the croissants are stale" or "parking was a problem", the conversation will very quickly spiral downwards and the other person will wonder what you are doing there.
 
 

Remember that eye contact within a group is very important and that to be interesting to them, you must listen. Names are very important - if you are approached or introduced to someone, repeat your name and use their name, too:

"Hello I'm Hilary. I'm very pleased to meet you Raj."

Invite others into your group, too - a good networker will be remembered for doing this simple thing. If you see someone you know or spoke to earlier, then involve them:

"Hi Jane, come and join us, we're just discussing......"

To read more about effective networking, please click here
 

To learn more about how Inspire Change helps develop Healthcare Leaders please visit our website www.inspirechange.com.

 

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