Building professional connections is one of the most valuable career skills for a professional to possess. A strong network can help you find career opportunities and excel within them, thanks to your contacts' support or guidance. Learning to build connections is a skill that you can develop by understanding the most effective methods and putting them into practice. In this article, we discuss this skill and why it's important, then list 10 tips to help you build connections successfully.
What does it mean to build connections?
Building connections occurs when you form a bond with another person. While you may create personal and professional relationships, both can benefit your professional career. Connections allow you to benefit from the help you receive from others, and you can also offer support to them when they need it. These relationships create a mutually beneficial system, in which increasing your network also increases your effectiveness and helpfulness in professional settings.
Why is it important to build connections?
Building connections is important because it makes you more versatile. When you encounter difficult situations, you have a network of individuals who can help identify solutions or otherwise support you. As a result, this network may increase your job security and your upward mobility potential. For example, if you lose your job, you can contact members of your network to learn about job openings or connect with individuals they know in your industry.
Benefits of building connections
As you expand your professional network, you may notice the numerous benefits of doing so. Some of the top reasons to work on building more and stronger relationships include:
New job opportunities
Professional connections are an excellent way to find new career opportunities. These individuals can tell you about job openings, including internal positions at their organization not posted publicly. They're also helpful when applying for positions because they can provide recommendations or serve as references for you as a candidate.
Mentorship relationships
When you form a strong bond with an experienced professional in your field, it provides an opportunity to learn and improve. You benefit from their experience in your profession, enabling you to develop your professional skills while avoiding making the mistakes they made. When you develop skills and knowledge with their help, it can boost your performance at work.
Increased development
Growing your network also enables you to develop as a professional because these connections can teach or inspire you to build your skills and knowledge. Also, many of the best methods for growing your network put you in positions to advance yourself, such as attending conferences, workshops and other professional events. Taking these opportunities to advance your skills and career can show your commitment to professional development and your career, which employers often appreciate.
Expanded clientele
Developing bonds with potential customers is a great way to build loyalty. When your client feels they have a personal connection with you, they're more likely to think favorably about the services you provide. This appreciation may lead them to recommend you to their friends and peers, helping you grow your client base.
Faster promotion
Connecting with more senior staff members at your company can help increase your opportunities for promotion. If these individuals have an existing, positive relationship with you, they already know and appreciate what you can do. This knowledge can make them more willing to put your name forth for a promotion or find ways to help you advance within the organization.
10 effective ways to build connections
Although connections can develop naturally, that doesn't mean there aren't ways to improve the effectiveness of these efforts to build them. These tips can help you create stronger bonds when making professional connections:
1. Participate in your industry
By participating in professional organizations or attending conferences related to your profession, you gain access to a broad range of professionals in your field. These activities represent excellent opportunities to connect with peers and more senior industry professionals. Professional organizations and conferences often offer more casual events besides formal ones, providing you with more opportunities to build personal connections and stronger bonds.
2. Be outgoing
While this trait may come more naturally to extroverts, introverted individuals can find opportunities to be outgoing and engage with others. Find hobbies or events that encourage you to interact with new people. Even if it's not directly related to your job, you can still meet people who can still serve valuable roles in your professional network. You can also practice being outgoing in your daily life by pushing yourself to make small talk or engage in conversations with your colleagues more often. The more you practice this skill, the more comfortable you'll feel.
3. Establish multiple styles of contact
When connecting with another person, it's helpful to establish multiple methods of communication. For example, you can exchange phone numbers and email addresses when meeting someone. This tactic increases the number of ways you can contact when necessary and can help you establish communication preferences. If you need to contact each other about important situations, you might call or text, for example. Then you can use emails to perform basic relationship maintenance and send casual messages or communications to each other.
4. Find commonalities
When trying to connect with another person, finding shared interests or responsibilities can provide an easy source of discussion. These interests can be professional or personal. For example, during a job interview, you may mention to the hiring manager that you attended the same university as them. These commonalities can offer a firm foundation for relationships because they provide you with insights into each other.
5. Provide value
Whether personal or professional, the best relationships have a symbiotic bond in which both participants provide benefits to each other. When it becomes imbalanced, one person may feel like the relationship isn't as genuine as they would like. If you request help from someone, show them you're willing to offer your assistance or support when they need it. This willingness creates a more balanced relationship that showcases your genuine respect and concern for each other.
6. Show your gratitude
One of the simplest ways to make someone feel appreciated is to express your gratitude after they do you a favor. When people feel appreciated or valued, it encourages them to continue maintaining and strengthening the relationship. Depending on the situation, you can say it in person or send a note, email or gift to express your thanks. These actions show you recognize the value the person provided to you and that you're grateful for their generosity.
7. Publish your work
You can take advantage of industry journals or blogging platforms to get noticed by people in your field. By publishing your work, you make it available for others to access and share. Individuals who read your work and find it interesting or worthwhile may contact you to share their thoughts or otherwise connect with you. While it may take effort to create an article, video or other published works, this tactic allows you to wait for like-minded individuals to contact you rather than trying to find them yourself.
8. Develop an online presence
From social media platforms to a personal website, developing an online presence is another way to connect with other professionals. You can follow industry blogs or thought leaders on various platforms and engage in online conversations on social media or professional groups. These platforms enable you to find and share resources to support one another and build bonds. When possible, share your social media profiles or professional website with others. They can contact you via these sites and learn more about you, both personally and in terms of the work you do.
9. Act as a host
Planning and hosting events can be a great way to meet people and form bonds with them. When you facilitate an industry event or create an industry group, it places you as a point of contact for individuals interested in participating. They may contact you before or after the event with questions or comments, allowing you to establish relationships. When you focus on events or groups related to your industry, it enables you to find like-minded individuals and potentially helps lead to professional opportunities.
10. Check-in with important contacts
After building an initial connection, you need to continue putting in efforts toward maintaining the relationship. You may especially want to consider this method to help you keep important contacts, such as clients or mentors. Check-in activities can vary from including your contacts on your holiday card lists to sending a brief email when you haven't spoken for an extended period to catch up on your lives or discuss professional opportunities. Making these efforts shows you value the relationship and helps keep you at the front of their mind.
Essential components of building connections
You can find several common traits present in most strong relationships. Understanding these components can help you assess and develop your connections with others. Critical components of strong relationships include:
Authenticity: It's beneficial to develop relationships based on authentic bonds. This authenticity creates deeper relationships because you know each other's true personalities and backgrounds, often making it easier to maintain your relationship in the future.
Common cause: Strong relationships often occur where the participants share common causes or interests. Having something in common makes it easier to develop and maintain rapport.
Consistency: When both parties feel that they can accurately predict how the other will react or respond in a situation, this is a sign of consistency. This level of predictability can help make stronger bonds because both parties feel they can rely on each other.
Reciprocity: With reciprocity, both parties help and support each other. Because everyone benefits from this reciprocal relationship, they're more likely to want to continue it.
Updated March 10, 2023
Indeed Editorial Team
Original article found here: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/build-connections