Networking Best Practices

Prioritize Diversity

Creating a diverse network made up of a variety of people of different backgrounds, professions, and opinions provides you with a competitive edge. Studies have shown that diverse collaboration drives creative thinking and can lead to better quality scientific research.¹  In the article How Diversity Makes Us Smarter, author Dr. Katherine Phillips states that “when members of a group notice that they are socially different from one another, they change their expectations. They anticipate differences of opinion and perspective. . . (and therefore) work harder in diverse environments both cognitively and socially.” 

 Put It Into Practice

Use this exercise to map your development network so that you can determine the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps. This will allow you to determine what you need to do to improve your network to successfully meet your goals. 

Prepare for Bilateral Conversations & Relationships

Networking is not a one-sided activity and should not be only self-serving. You should be prepared for a mutually beneficial relationship. Do not start networking conversations with an immediate ask, rather make it conversational. “I really connected with what you said about X. I am reaching out to learn more about your continued work in this area and how it aligns with my own.” Approaching networking with a genuine interest in the other person can lead to better relationships. 

Put It Into Practice

Reframe your view of networking. In their Harvard Business Review article Remote Networking as a Person of Color, authors Laura Morgan Roberts and Anthony J. Mayo “discovered, through follow-up interviews and case studies of Black executives, that those most likely to invest in networking were able to reframe their perceptions of these activities from self-focused to other-focused.”

Understand how your professional relationships underpin your success. In his book Connected Leadership, author Any Lopata encourages strong relationships to build a network of people who are able to support you, want to support you and know how to support you

Start the Conversation

As we shared in Prepare to Network, it is vital to prepare to network by knowing how to concisely articulate the problem you work to solve. But even if you have prepared, how do you start a conversation with someone in order to share it? These resources describe how to start a dialogue and make meaningful connections. 

 Put It Into Practice

Practice using conversation starters. Starting a conversation can be challenging so it is important to have some "starter" and "closer" conversation sentences ready.  “How long have you worked here? How has the conference been for you so far? What has been your favorite session?” Having something benign prepared to break the ice can be helpful. Find some conversation starters in Networking Conversation Starters That Make You Stand Out and Be Memorable by Dr. Ruth Gotian. 

 Put It Into Practice

When contacting someone directly, think about this checklist: 

Be Complimentary: Tell them why they are the person to whom you are reaching out.  
Be Specific: Tell them what you are interested in learning more about or why you want to connect with them. However don’t go directly to an ask. Learn more in Bilateral Conversations. 
Be Brief: Keep in short. 
 

Follow Up

Building relationships takes time and effort. Be proactive, reach out to others, and follow up on connections to build and maintain your network. 

 Put It Into Practice

Consider using the 24/7/30 follow-up system. In their book Avoiding the Networking Disconnect, authors Dr. Ivan Misner and Brennan Scanlon came up with the 24/7/30 Follow-up System: 

• When you meet someone, drop them a note within 24 hours after meeting them. 
• Within 7 days, connect and engage with them on the social media platform they use the most. 
• Within 30 days, try to set up a face-to-face meeting (in person or by video conference).

Consider Self-Care

Networking can be exhausting and uncomfortable. This can be particularly true for people of color, women, and underrepresented populations as studies have shown that networking can be more difficult for these groups.^{5, 6,7} It is important to develop practices for self-care and balance so that you can be the best version of yourself.

Take time to:

• Re-energize: Set-up personal boundaries around networking so that you have time to regroup and re-energize. This may mean planning to take a few moments to yourself at a conference or being strategic about the networking opportunities you chose to participate in. 
• Be mindful: Be thoughtful around not only how you use your time but how you are using the time of those with whom you network. Make an effort to be thoughtful and respectful with your networking approach. 
• Seek support from friends and colleagues: Asking a friend or colleague to join you at a networking event, to introduce you to someone or for just general advice and support can make networking easier.