How to Build a Powerful Network
Creating a network of professional people will help you advance with your current career. This helps you stay competitive within your company or while job hunting. Building a professional network is imperative for anyone’s career whether or not you are employed.
Powerful
The key word for networking is powerful. You want to surround yourself with people who can help you get to your ultimate goal: a project you want to work on, a promotion or a job. Think of the people who can help you get to your goal. Make a list, and set a timeline for yourself to get these people in your network.
While you may relate the word powerful with a CEO or VP, an influential person is not always someone with a senior title. You will be surprised how people can assist you reach your goal. Don’t exclude people because they don’t have the right title in front of their name.
Business cards
To build a professional network, it takes time and persistence. During any business meeting, hand each person you meet your business card and take a business card from them. If someone talked about an interesting antidote, follow it up with an email the next day.
Meetings
During interoffice meetings it is important to stand out. Do research about the topic of the meeting so you can ask intelligent questions and get yourself noticed by both your peers and leadership. When walking into a meeting, introduce yourself to people you don’t know and hand them your card.
Mentor
Inside your office find a mentor, someone who can help you move ahead in the company. Most people will be very flattered you have requested them to become your mentor. Make sure you outline exactly what you would like from the relationship, a timeline and what you would like the end result to be.
Professional websites
LinkedIn is an exceptional site to help you build your network. Take the business cards you have collected during meetings, and send them a LinkedIn invite to join your network. Write a personal note about something they said that was of interest to you. This shows your professionalism when networking.
Using both social media and in person networking you will surround yourself with a powerful network. This will help you reach your goals. Take your time and soon you will be the person others seek for advice.
