The Hidden Benefits of Networking
Networking can take a lot of effort – it is time-consuming to build a strong network and it requires effort to keep on top of it and continue to invest in your network and help it grow. As well as the obvious benefits it is important to also remember the hidden benefits as well to help keep your focussed on building your network.
01 Unconscious Mentoring can provide advice and inspiration and guidance
Networking and building relationships with your network is a form of unconscious mentoring. Your everyday meetings and conversations present hidden opportunities for unconscious mentoring.
An unconscious mentor has a positive influence and impact on other peoples lives and helps them out often without knowing it.
It might simply be by giving them a smile, saying thank you, sharing stories with them, offering advice, being a good listener, being a role model etc.
Further Reading: Unconscious Mentoring
02 Networking can help build your communications skills
Networking can help you build all kinds of interpersonal skills. Talking to new people helps you develop your communication skills.
Networking is an opportunity to test your stories and conversations, practice your elevator pitch and pitching technique and practice your body language, building rapport and using your voice.
Further Reading: What is your message?
03 Networking can be a boost to your confidence
As well as building communication and interpersonal skills. Networking can also be used to build your confidence. Attending and speaking at networking events can be intimidating at first, but experience helps to change that. The more you network the easier it becomes.
This confidence not only helps you become better at networking, but it also helps you be more confident in other areas of your life.
Further Reading: What does confidence sound like?
04 Networking can help you to meet new people, make friends and have fun.
Being social and having friends at work can make you happier. The same goes for building your network and your professional relationships.
Networking can help you meet more people, make friends and have stronger relationships with others. This is turn can make you happier and help you to actually have fun.
If you work from home – these networking opportunities can help you feel less isolated.
You don’t even have to be an extrovert to take advantage of this. Smaller networking groups can also provide this benefit.
Further Reading: How to: Build your network if you work from home
05 You never know when a connection may come in handy
Having a strong and varied professional network helps you stay connected to all kinds of different people.
Each strand of your network and each individual has a unique set of skills and areas of expertise to the table and are able to offer different opportunities.
You never know how or when your connections and contacts might come in handy.
Further Reading: Offer your network opportunities.
06 Networking can encourage you to do things outside of your comfort zone
Networking can help you to do things outside your comfort zone and to learn new things that are not part of your day to day job.
Networking can present you with opportunities that you might not otherwise come across. Or help you learn things that you didn’t know previously, simply by talking to people that you wouldn’t otherwise meet and sharing stories and experiences with them and listening to their stories and experiences.
Further Reading: Why is Active Listening So Important and how to be better?
07 Networking can help you find personal opportunities (as well as professional ones)
Having a strong professional network can also be a good thing on a personal level.
Professional connections and contacts can still provide opportunities that may benefit you not just in your professional life and in the workplace, but they might also provide other opportunities of interest. After all, when you cast a wide net you open yourself up to all sorts of opportunities.
Further Reading: Quick Tip: Don’t be afraid to cast your net wide
