The compounding effect of networking to grow in your career
Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite activity, networking. As a self-described extroverted introvert, the traditional sense of networking is tough. I am not a huge fan of small talk and I get super uncomfortable in settings where I know no one.
Luckily, I found a better form of networking that works better for me. I don’t spend much time focusing on big events, instead my goal is more 1:1 connections. I’ve realized through my journey that networking can be however we make it to be. If you’re into large group settings, then great. If that’s not your thing, then also great. The key here is finding what works for you.
In this post, I talk about how I’ve been able to leverage networking to advance in my career in the hopes that this helps you too.
Showing support and being helpful
When I first wanted to break into the Community industry, I was unsure about how I could do this. There were others who have been in this space for 3, 5, 10+ years, and here is little ol’ me who is barely a month in and wanting to grow.
But instead of letting this fear stop me, I figured why not just be as helpful as I could to others and use this for my eventual growth in this space. Community is all about helping others right? So I took this mentality and applied it to my own journey in networking.
My goal for every Community builder that I met was to help them with one thing. I’d help with promoting their announcements, give a second look at a document they were working on, or just be there to bounce ideas off of. It didn’t matter, I just wanted to help.
If I could be helpful, then my goal was met.
Tip: If you’re struggling with reaching out to someone, find out what they’re working on and offer one thing that you can support to amplify their efforts.
The 5x5 rule
One of my ultimate favorite tips to improve your networking skills is the 5x5 rule. The idea behind this is that there are 5 business days in a week, so the goal is to reach out to 5 different people on each one of those days.
These can be completely new people, past colleagues, clients, etc. The point here is to break down your networking efforts into small daily steps to compound over time. At the end of the week, you will have reached out to 25 people. At the end of the month, it’ll be 100. Just based on numbers alone, you will have made good progress on your networking in only one month.
True story, but my previous role that I had happened because of this rule. I just happened to reach out at the most opportune time, and it wouldn’t have happened without following the 5x5 rule.
Tip: If 5 is too many on a daily basis, start with 1-3 and then scale from there. Work what’s best for your schedule and comfort.
Leveraging referrals
Networking isn’t just about who you know; it’s also about who they know. Think of it as a ripple effect where each connection you make can open doors to even more opportunities and relationships.
A great way to do this is to ask your network for introductions to others in their network, but be specific about why you want to be introduced. You’re more likely to make that introduction happen when you're specific with your ask. Remember, a warm introduction can be much more effective than a cold outreach.
Tip: Beyond asking, you can also offer referrals. When you’re proactive in connecting people within your network it helps position you as a connector and it all comes back to you when you need it.
Be true to your word
Integrity, like in everything else, is crucial in networking. Maintaining integrity means being reliable. It’s about showing up consistently and being true to your word.
People sometimes forget the good things, but they never forget the bad. Burned bridges are one of the easiest ways to limit your reach. Beyond that, it’s just not cool when you say you’ll help with something and drop the ball.
Tip: Less is more. I know we all like being helpful and saying yes to many things, but when we get stricter in what we can and can’t take on, we’re more likely to follow through.
Pass the spotlight
One way to grow your network is to utilize your own platform. Say for example you write a weekly newsletter to x amount of subscribers per week. You can reach out to others in your field and see if they’d like to contribute their thoughts to your newsletter. This allows you to connect with others and also gives them a whole new audience to reach out to.
Tip: If you already have a platform (newsletter, podcast, etc.) start looking into ways that you can invite others in the process. Passing the spotlight is a great way to build your network.
Networking can be one of the most effective ways to grow in your career. That age-old saying “It’s not what you know, but who you know” rings true. But you don’t have to be intimidated by networking either. Start with one new person today, and build on that.
Before you know it, you’ll have met hundreds of new people and will have had some great experiences along the way.
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Thank you for reading,
Max