How to Develop Your Networking Skills

Networking is an essential part of owning and running a business. If you’re a business owner, there’s no getting around or avoiding this fact. A company’s new partnerships, leads, and clients are often gained thanks to the power of networking. However, not many people are born with natural networking skills. While some extroverts may enjoy meeting new people, introverts have more difficulty conversing with complete strangers. Don’t worry! We have some surefire ways you can improve your networking skills.  

Why are networking skills critical? 

First, let’s review why networking skills are essential. Networking skills are crucial whether you own your business or are an employee working for a large company. Having the right networking skills can open doors and create new opportunities that might be impossible without networking.  

For example, you’re attending a trade show. There are hundreds of companies and businesses, many of them complementary to yours. Either you share the same target market or adapt to their current lifestyle. If you have the right networking skills, you’ll end the day with dozens of new contacts and business cards in your hands. However, suppose you go in without a plan and lack the right networking skills. In that case, you’ll probably go home empty-handed, and you would have just wasted an entire day. 

This situation is just one example of why developing your networking skills is essential. Whether it’s a trade show, conference, or networking event, having the right networking skills is crucial to making the most of these networking opportunities. Also, remember that networking is all about building relationships. So, the essential networking skills are the same skills you need to develop meaningful relationships with others.  

Top networking skills 

There are many vital networking skills you should work on developing, but here are the most critical networking skills you must have.  

Active listening 

One of the most important networking skills is knowing how to listen actively. This is not just a crucial networking skill but an important life skill. Remember that this is not just hearing what the other person is saying. Active listening is paying attention to what the other person is saying, maintaining eye contact, and being engaged in the conversation.  

To keep it simple, always put yourself in the other person’s shoes. How do you want to be listened to? Would you be excited to work with someone who kept on checking their phone or looking around the room while you were talking? We’re sure the answer is no. So, listen to the other person as much as you want them to listen to you. 

Communication skills 

Another crucial networking skill is being able to communicate your thoughts and ideas clearly. Even if you have the best proposal or the lowest price compared to your competitors in a trade show, you will lose out to other people who can communicate and network better if you don’t have practical communication skills.  

Communication skills involve exchanging information with another person. These skills include how you speak, body language, words, and how you interact with others. You have to convey your message correctly and, at the same time, receive the message the other person is sending. In networking, effective communication is key to creating and maintaining professional relationships with others. 

Confidence 

As the famous saying goes, fake it ’till you make it! This saying can apply to confidence. Some people may suffer from impostor syndrome or be anxious when meeting new people. However, being confident is crucial in networking. When introducing yourself to new contacts, you need to demonstrate confidence in yourself, your business, and what you are offering. 

There are some ways you can build your confidence. First, ensure you are always prepared when going to a networking event or party. Rehearse your pitch, prepare your business cards, and dress the part. These help build confidence and can help you genuinely feel more confident, which shows when you talk to other people. 

Be able to receive rejection and not take it personally 

In networking, there will be instances where you will be rejected and disappointed. Maybe the person you were most excited to meet barely looked at you, or the company you wanted to partner with gave you a lukewarm response. These things happen in networking! It’s not unique to you, and it may happen again. Remember, don’t take it personally. You have no idea what the other person is thinking or what they are looking for.  

Take every failed networking opportunity as a sign to continue developing your networking skills. Think about what you said during the networking event and your elevator pitch. Was it the best you could have done? It’s possible that your elevator pitch lacked information or there just wasn’t a good fit between your business and the other organisation, which is why you received some criticism. Don’t worry about it! Just continue to improve your networking skills and continue to practice these skills during networking events.   

Empathy 

Another essential networking skill is empathy. This is the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes and see things from their perspective. Empathy is being able to feel what another person is feeling. In networking, empathy skills are essential. They allow you to better understand and relate to another person’s experiences and emotions. Empathy is not just a vital networking skill. It’s also an important life skill. 

You can develop this skill simply by being mindful of others. When you talk to someone, imagine yourself in their position. For example, when you meet new contacts at a networking event, ask more questions about their professional background and what their business needs. Doing this makes you more aware of their origin and builds your empathy.  

Consistency 

You should always be working on building and nurturing your professional network. Developing your networking skills and putting them to good use should be a regular and consistent part of your professional priorities. You can’t work on it for a month, forget about your new contacts for six months, and then expect to pick up networking where you left off.  

A good networking skill is being consistent with your networking efforts and always following up with the new contacts that you make. There are regular networking events that you can already schedule into your calendar. Ensure that you attend these events, connect with different people, and, most importantly, follow up with them soon after.  

Respect 

While it seems common sense, it’s a good reminder to show respect to everyone you meet. It doesn’t matter if you meet the CEO of a large company or an assistant manager at a small firm. Everyone you network with deserves your respect. Also, respectful and polite people do great at networking because they are easy to talk to, approachable, and well-mannered. 

How do you show respect? Treat others how you would like others to treat you. This includes your body language and non-verbal communication skills. Are you constantly checking your mobile phone when someone is talking to you? Do you use professional, respectful, and appropriate language with people you meet while networking? Do you interrupt them when they’re in the middle of talking? Take a moment to look at yourself and notice how you talk to other people.  

Email writing  

While writing is part of communication skills, being able to write professional and effective emails is a specific aspect of this skill. A vital networking skill is ensuring that your emails are professionally written and contain the necessary information without being too wordy. 

Develop this networking skill by practising writing professional emails. Here are some tips you should follow: 

• Use a professional email address 
• Have a clear subject 
• Write using positive and professional language
• Remove any typos – proofread all the time! 
• Don’t use emojis 
• Mention if you are adding an attachment so they know what to expect 

One of the most important things to do while networking is following up; email is the most common way to follow up with a new contact. Sending an email is easier and quicker compared to calling someone. If you have ten new connections, imagine calling all of them in one day. On the other hand, sending out a well-written email takes a few minutes. This leaves a good impression on the recipient and helps the relationship grow. 

In summary, developing your networking skills is crucial to success in business. Unfortunately, some people avoid networking and do not put enough effort into building their professional networks. These people are missing out on the benefits that networking can bring. On the other hand, those who put the time and effort into networking and developing their networking skills will soon reap the rewards. 

You are wasting significant opportunities if you don’t develop your networking skills and apply them to every networking event you attend. Keep in mind that having good networking skills can directly contribute to the success of your business. 

Building your professional network has many benefits for you and your business – you can gain industry knowledge, learn about the latest professional updates, and potentially attract more leads and customers. If these are your networking goals (and they should be!), start developing your networking skills today.