It’s interesting how the concept of networking was natural to us even when we could barely speak. Cast your mind back to when you were little. Before you went to preschool, your human network was only your family. But on your first day of preschool, you met your first friend who introduced you to their best friend and that’s when your group of friends grew and grew and grew.
Essentially, networking in business is developing a system of support and contacts, building your contact base through events and other various social or business opportunities. The wider your network is, the more contacts you have in more places and the more support you have. It’s as simple as that. Still not convinced? Keep reading.
1. You have nothing to lose, only to gain
Networking is free. With mutual benefits reaped, the value is evident for both parties and the connection will be mutually recognised. The only thing you could possibly lose is the time you spent talking to them, but with the chance to go around and network with different people and potentially meet someone who can help you now or sometime in the future makes those hours a minuscule opportunity cost.
2. It’s a valuable learning opportunity
People will be willing to talk to you about their experiences and give you advice when you ask for it. It doesn’t cost them anything and if you ask the right people, you will find yourself in a learning opportunity you can’t find in places such as in your textbooks or even at university. You never know who you could meet – an investor looking for his next investment, an innovator looking for his next partner, a CEO of a startup searching for his next employee. Let yourself be found.
3. Different people in different places
In Dragon’s Den, sometimes the only thing that will give an investor the upper hand on a deal are their contacts. Think of a spider web: the more points of contact it has with its surroundings, the stronger the web and the same goes for business. The more people you know, the greater your value and worth is.
4. Potential job referrals
The most important brand you will ever work on and with, is yourself. That’s why getting your name out there and making it known should be one of your priorities. Imagine CEO A is talking to CEO B about his struggles of finding someone in the X team and CEO B remembers you, a perfect fit for the job. They search their LinkedIn connections and find you. The message now in your inbox could change the course of your career.
Where you are right now, has been determined by a series of you saying ‘yes’. Saying ‘yes’ I will go to this event, ‘yes’ I will network with everyone here and ‘yes’, I will not let this opportunity slide. At StartCon, we recognise the importance of networking and that is why we have set up three networking events and more, for you at our conference this year. Are you ready to be found?
