What is networking and how does it benefit me?

To succeed in the professional or business realm, we have always heard that it is important to know languages, have good training, and build a strong network of contacts. Perhaps the latter is so crucial that it can determine whether a person achieves their professional goals or falls short.

That is why in recent years the concept of networking has gained special relevance worldwide. This concept, originating from the Anglo-Saxon world, has successfully established itself globally due to its interesting benefits and advantages for professionals across all sectors.

What is networking?

Networking is a term that in English means “making contacts” or “working to make contacts.” It is an activity where professionals, whether entrepreneurs, freelancers, business owners, or executives, can meet to chat and connect with the goal of finding mutually beneficial relationships.

The objective of networking is to create business opportunities, initiate collaborations with other individuals or companies, share knowledge that aids professional development, find potential clients, and generally expand the network of contacts to benefit from it both now and in the future.

Networking can occur in an informal café in a trendy bar in a financial district, but also in a small coworking space where freelancers and independent professionals work. What matters is what is gained from these types of encounters and the benefits and advantages they provide to all parties involved.

Benefits and advantages of networking

Among the benefits and advantages we can highlight from networking, we will mention the following:

Expand your network of contacts

Anyone can use networking to meet professionals working in their field and thus establish relationships that can be fruitful at a business or intellectual level. This helps many professionals develop a social circle related to their profession, which can be immensely helpful when growing a project by finding clients or seeking new employment in the future.

Create business relationships

The power of networking to create new business relationships is one of its main benefits. Networking is used by entrepreneurs and business owners to discuss their project, what sets them apart from similar ones, and why they are the best alternative with their products and/or services. It is a way to reach potential clients who gather in the same space all at once, in a more personal manner and without it seeming like a commercial effort.

Find new opportunities

Networking is very useful for finding new opportunities that you thought did not exist. For example, you can find a partner to grow your business or a better supplier of products with which to expand your range of goods or services. Thanks to networking, many entrepreneurs and business owners have found solutions to grow their business with very interesting opportunities.

Greater visibility

Networking is essential for making yourself more visible in your professional environment. You can use networking to start becoming known and recognized by other professionals, thus achieving a name in the sector as someone working on interesting projects and ideas. It is a way to “come out of the cave,” leave the office for a while, and connect to gain visibility and recognition.

Communication skills

Networking can be a great help to practice and develop your communication skills. It is very useful for overcoming shyness and gaining self-confidence when interacting with strangers while developing your social skills. Although it may seem uncomfortable at first, in the end, you will feel at ease interacting with people who, like you, are looking to increase their contacts and establish beneficial business relationships.

Stay updated

Networking can help you stay updated about the sector, the market, or what your competitors are doing. It is a way to stay in touch with various professionals who will always bring something new to the conversation or a new idea that may be useful for your company or specialty. Sometimes it is necessary to listen to other professionals in the sector to learn something new.

Give and receive support

Networking creates very interesting and constructive relationships. You can count on the support and advice of professionals who have more experience than you and who can guide you on the next steps you need to take in your professional or business activity. Likewise, you can also help others by advising them on topics you master or have great knowledge about.

Boost self-esteem

Sometimes you do not realize how important what you have learned and what you are doing is until you share it with people in your same sector or who are trying to do the same as you. This can be very helpful to boost self-esteem and confidence in what you do, which is essential for continuing to work with greater drive and enthusiasm.

Create collaborations

Sometimes, networking can lead to proposing or being proposed collaborations at a professional or business level. It is a space to share ideas, experiences, and knowledge, and thanks to this, you can find people to make a professional or business proposal to, as well as receive proposals yourself.

Where to network?

Networking can be practiced in very diverse spaces and environments, such as the following:

• In offline or online environments
• In coworking spaces
• At professional events
• At conferences
• At events
• At congresses
• On professional social networks like LinkedIn
• At business meetings in your city
• At informal breakfasts
• In courses or workshops
• In professional or business associations (for example, Young Entrepreneurs Association, AJE)

All these places are conducive to networking. Additionally, there are networking events specifically scheduled for this purpose. In any city, networking events occur with some frequency, organized by companies, professionals, or associations in the sector.

Tips to make the most of networking

To get the most out of networking and benefit from it, you should keep in mind tips such as the following:

• Set a goal for the event. You should be clear about why you want to go or what you intend to achieve in these types of encounters. For this, you should know what would satisfy you when you get home or what you would consider a success at the end of the meeting. For example, introducing yourself to a potential client and getting their phone number.
• Research who will attend and identify your references. It is essential to know who is attending to determine if the meeting is of interest to you. Among the attendees, you should identify whom you will focus your efforts on.
• Prepare a brief introduction about yourself (elevator pitch). It is essential to introduce yourself as a professional, especially when you are still in the early stages. Highlight some achievements or professional successes that may surprise or impress the attendees.
• Avoid awkward silences. Go to networking with the clear intention of socializing, chatting, and making contacts, so avoid awkward silences that do not contribute anything and waste your time.
• Be natural and keep an open mind. Do not present a false image of yourself or try to appear overly artificial. Act naturally and keep an open mind to meet other professionals without prejudice.
• Show your talent. You should introduce yourself, showcase what you can do, your professional achievements, or what you are particularly good at. You need to demonstrate that you are an attractive profile for establishing a professional relationship.
• Show interest and willingness to meet other attendees. A mistake in networking is only trying to talk about oneself. Also, show interest in what others have to share. Many professionals attend these events intending to demonstrate what they know and may surprise you positively.
• Be kind and approachable to others. Always try to dedicate a few minutes to anyone who approaches you with the intention of starting a conversation.
• After the event, organize the contacts you have obtained and follow up on proposals. Make the calls you promised to make and respond to those made to you; it is the best way to continue potential relationships that arise from these encounters.
• Follow those contacts on professional social networks and try to stay in touch with those you think can contribute the most to your professional or business development.

As you can see, networking can provide interesting benefits to any professional looking to exchange ideas and knowledge, as well as establish new relationships with professionals in their sector. It is a way to create lasting contacts that can be essential for achieving new goals throughout your career.

And you, do you practice networking?

We’ll read each other soon!