Networking has for centuries been used in various ways by individuals to grow their business as well as personal careers, and also to make all sorts of projects happen. Networking skills are not something you are born with, you can develop them. And it need not be a complex process. The great news is that anyone can improve their networking and influencing skills.
The basic principle of networking is finding and building helpful relationships and connections with other people.
Mutual benefit is a common feature in successful networking – and this is a powerful underpinning principle to remember when building and using your own networking methods. It is human nature, and certainly a big factor in successful networking, for an action to produce an equal and opposite reaction. Effort and reward are closely linked and ultimately it should be a ‘win-win’ strategic alliance.
“It’s not what you know; it’s who you know…” The point there is to ask yourself: “Why would somebody want to know me?”
People may do something for nothing for someone once or twice, but sooner or later some sort of return is expected, even if not openly stated. This is the principle of reciprocity.
Reciprocity applies very strongly where recommendation and referrals are involved. Ask yourself: “Why would someone refer or recommend me?”
This introduces the vital aspects of trust and credibility and integrity. Would you refer someone you did not trust, to a valued contact of yours? Other people tend not to either. One must remember to treat networks and the people within them with respect and integrity.
People who use networking can be employees, self-employed, business owners – any age, culture, any level of seniority or specialization. Networkers can be buyers and/or sellers or could potentially be both: most of us want to ‘sell’ or promote our own interests and at the same time capable of ‘buying’ or otherwise enabling the interests of others. We usually refer to a job interview as to “how to best sell my expertise”. The networking world is open to everyone, without exception, as long as your networking values are strong, ethical and transparent.