Content Written By: April Wilson, Ryan Winter LLC contributing writer
You hear it all the time, from loved ones, mentors, speakers, articles: “You need to network.” But it’s easier said than done. Networking, especially when done right, takes time — and time isn’t something that’s easy to come by. However, investing time into your business through networking can pay off immensely, adding success and changing your life.
So, how do you network effectively — meaning how can you invest your time wisely into building your business?
Networking doesn’t have to be a chore
Well, let’s start by diving into why networking feels like a chore.
In the article, Learn to Love Networking, the Harvard Business Review explained that many people view networking as “dirty” and “inauthentic.” But the article explains that there are ways to think differently about networking that can not only help you feel motivated to do it but also make it more effective.
The article states first that, “A mountain of research shows that professional networks lead to more job and business opportunities, broader and deeper knowledge, improved capacity to innovate, faster advancement, and greater status and authority. Building and nurturing professional relationships also improves the quality of work and increases job satisfaction.”
So to start, when you take the time to network, you are taking the time to build your own satisfactions. Beyond thinking of what networking can do for you, the Harvard Business Review says that “When you think more about what you can give to others than what you can get from them, networking will seem less self-promotional and more selfless—and therefore more worthy of your time.”
In summary, when you view networking as a way to not only bring satisfaction and success into your own life but also into the lives of the people you create working relationships with, networking can feel more worth investing your time into. “By shifting to a promotion mindset, identifying and exploring shared interests, expanding your view of what you have to offer, and motivating yourself with a higher purpose, you’ll become more excited about and effective at building relationships that bear fruit for everyone,” the Harvard Business Review said.
Changing your mindset on networking can help you get motivated to build relationships.
Building Quality Relationships
Deciding who to build relationships with is the next key component to networking effectively. You want to invest your time in people who are trustworthy, reliable and smart.
A guest writer for Forbes.com, Founder and Owner of Kailas Companies Mohan Kailas, said in his article, 5 Essential Tips for Networking in Real Estate, “Having a team that is comprised of competent and trustworthy people is critical to the success of any real estate business.”
Surrounding yourself with people you can have a symbiotic working relationship with is key. It’s all about helping each other. The goal is to build relationships by helping others who can in turn help you. It’s all about the give and take.
In a similar Forbes.com article, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI Ivan Misner supports this idea. Misner said, “Good networking is all about investing in some social capital before asking for a withdrawal.” To build successful relationships you have to give, you have to help others. If you are reaching out and being helpful to the right people, they will then help you. This means investing your time into quality relationships, not a bunch of meaningless, surface-level ones.
Networking Wisely
It’s better to cultivate a few meaningful relationships than spending time and a multitude of empty ones. “The only thing more important than the size of your network is the quality of your network. It’s a people puzzle, not a numbers game.” Misner said.
Take it from the Founder and CEO of Real Estate Worldwide (REWW) Kent Clothier in his Forbes.com article: “Networking is a skill beyond a numbers game or talking to a multitude of different people. Rather, one quality connection or conversation is better than 20 superficial ones. Whether you’re at a conference or social outing, focus on creating genuine relationships based on listening, reciprocity and shared interests and goals.”
Making Connections Naturally
Now that you have a mindset on who to network with and how to build quality relationships, go meet people.
There are a plethora of ways to interact with people and discover those worth investing your time into.
A good place to start is working at building relationships with quality people you already know. There are people who cross your path every day. Start building conversations with the people you already come into contact with throughout your week.
Get involved with the community. Better yet, become a leader inside your community. You will naturally build relationships just by getting involved.
There are also many networking functions available, especially for people in real estate. US Patriot Title offers monthly events that not only offers people the chance to network but also offers a continuing education credit toward license requirements.
Networking, when done correctly, is worth the investment of your time.
