Developing professional networking skills

Networking enhances your professional identity, expands your contacts and offers opportunities for personal and career growth. It helps you develop a sense of belonging and purpose within your profession, boosts self-confidence and provides support during challenging times. Networking also allows you to learn from others and mentor individuals embarking on their careers, which is highly fulfilling.  

Developing professional networking skills involves a combination of strategies and practices. Here are some steps you can take to enhance your networking abilities:

• Define your goals: Identify what you want to achieve through networking. Are you seeking career opportunities, mentorship, or professional insights? 

• Build your online presence: Maintain a LinkedIn profile (see below) and engage with relevant online communities and forums. Share insights, participate in discussions and connect with professionals in your field.

• Attend networking events: If possible, attend relevant seminars, workshops, and other networking events. They provide opportunities to meet new people and build connections.

• Initiate conversations: Approach people with confidence and initiate conversations by starting with a friendly introduction.  Express genuine interest in their work and ask open-ended questions to encourage dialogue. If approaching new people feels daunting, seek support from peers or managers.  Engaging in role-playing scenarios with peers can help initiative conversations and employing strategies outlined in sections focused on self-efficacy and confidence-building will also be helpful. 

• Active listening: Practice mindful listening during conversations . Pay close attention to what others are saying, ask relevant follow-up questions and show empathy and understanding.

• Follow up: After meeting someone, send a follow-up email or message to reinforce the connection. Express interest in staying in touch and offer to provide value where possible.

• Add value: Seek opportunities to contribute to your network. Share useful resources, make introductions, or offer insights based on your expertise. Networking thrives on mutual benefit, and providing value enhances and deepens connections over time.

• Sustain relationships: Maintaining long-term connections demands continuous effort and engagement. Nurture your professional relationships by staying in touch, checking in regularly, and offering support when needed. 

• Seek mentorship: Identify experienced practitioners in your field who can offer guidance and mentorship. Their insights, advice and support can be invaluable for your career development. Additionally, consider mentoring others as a way to give back and contribute to your professional community. 

When used professionally, social media is a valuable platform for networking, building important connections, and staying up to date of current research, best practice and career prospects. FWB4 Professional Identity offers some ideas on using social media for networking purposes and developing your professional identity.