Many professionals complain of not being able to do it professional networking through which to expand your network of knowledge.
LinkedIn data revealed that 26% of industry professionals say they don’t have time to build professional relationships. Rightly so, we already dedicate a large part of our day to work and prefer to spend our free time fulfilling family and social duties – and pleasures. But, in many cases, professional networking is not about gaining more time or sacrificing part of your free time. Use your “empty” moments more wisely.
It is true that we often don’t have a whole hour to dedicate to a meeting because we are busy with other commitments, but we can get other small spaces of time during the day. For example, a coffee break for a phone call or lunch for a chat in person. Sometimes 10 minutes between the conclusion of one activity and the start of the next is enough to make a new acquaintance.
Many people I have met during my work collaborations prefer to do professional networking during non-traditional meetings. In this case it’s not about organizing meetings, but about exploiting moments of sharing in informal environments. For example, while training or playing a game together: it is also a way to grow your multitasking skills.
Also according to a LinkedIn survey, 51% of working adults choose to do professional networking during non-traditional meetings in the spa, during fitness courses or beauty and relaxing treatments. In this way, business and pleasure are combined, less forced but more natural chats arise, all the time available is used and better relationships are also built.
5 ways to network professionally while maximizing your time
Instead of spending additional time on professional networking activities, introduce them into your programs networking opportunities with other professionals. Find ways to connect with people who interest you, or who need you, during the busyness of your day. Whether it’s in a coffee shop or while you’re moving from one place to another for work: you could have a coffee or share the journey with a client, a possible partner or collaborator. Obviously, the stipulation is that your interlocutor also has that time available to dedicate to you. But if it is in the interest of both parties to create professional networking, then a way can be found.
Let’s see then 5 ways to network professionallyexpand your network and derive new business opportunities.
Set a goal and dedicate at least 5 minutes to achieving it
Every week Make it a goal to do professional networking by connecting with one or two new people in your industry. You don’t have to meet them in person right away. However, spend at least 5 minutes to send them an email explaining why you would like to know them. Introduce yourself and immediately tell them why you are contacting them. Convey to them your vision of what your collaboration could be, without forgetting to talk about them and how their contribution could be fundamental. This way you will be able to gain attention and, why not, their interest in professional networking with you.
Take advantage of social media
In addition to email, it is possible and even profitable to use social media for professional networking. In fact, don’t limit yourself to using social media just for your purposes strategies of web marketing. There are social platforms that make high-level communication with other professionals possible, LinkedIn itself for example. Connect with people who seem to you to have profiles related to yours and with whom you think you could develop interesting business projects. Don’t act randomly, but find out about them well before starting your communication. People are happy to hear that what they do has aroused interest and that they have been chosen specifically for a project without being, let’s say, drawn from the deck.
Prepare your “trump card”
During the first professional networking approaches, you find out about people and they do so about you. They take a look at your experiences, your credentials, your profile, but there are always nuances that don’t come up. Be prepared to present your surprising findings that you have drawn from your experiences and the ideas you have regarding the possible professional collaboration that you want to propose.
Sometimes it can be useful to write down your professional victories and proposals in black and white. In this way, after having spoken about it orally, you will be able to leave a document to your interlocutor who will have the opportunity to reread everything at a later time and evaluate the situation.
Only agree to attend meetings if they seem beneficial to you
To do good professional networking while maximizing your time available, you need to do an initial screening of the people you want to meet. Even if you are often curious to see what lies behind some proposal, remember to analyze beforehand the person and his offer. Although each of us is led to think “it could be a missed opportunity”, I advise you to make your assessments well so that it doesn’t become a waste of time. I don’t want to be catastrophic, but you can’t make up for lost time. So, don’t live with anxiety, but make thoughtful decisions.
Learn to dose and respect the times
A professional network cannot be built all at once. So if you planned to have 15 or 30 minutes for a meeting or phone call, make sure you stick to that time. Even if you have to cut it short with your interlocutor, don’t cross the pre-established limit. The risk would be to feel annoyed by the person on the other end or to penalize the organization of your day.
You can always politely say that you have other commitments to meet and make an appointment for another time. Your precision will be viewed positively by your interlocutor who will know that you will arrive on time for your next meeting.
Conclusion
Professional networking to open up new business opportunities is possible even without taking up too much free time. Don’t assume that you have to give up something. You actually have to look for the way to fill the time you have available with quality in order to get the most.