Networking Skills Inherent - Learn How to Build Them!

If you've plateaued in your career, you're likely wondering how you can take the next step. The best way to enhance your career is to develop networking skills. What makes networking so powerful is that it creates countless new opportunities. The more opportunities you generate, the higher your chance of success.

But how does one learn to network? What networking skills do you need to learn?

Perhaps most importantly, how do you build your networking skills?

We’ll go over what you need to learn and how to acquire the tools you need to become an expert at networking.

Leverage Your Communication Skills

Communication is one of the most obvious networking skills you need to acquire.

When forming a new network, you should be clear about what you want. It’s important to let your contacts know what you are looking for and what you can expect to get out of the relationship.

It’s also important to develop your communication skills so that your intentions are not misinterpreted. A common issue arises when individuals invite others for networking purposes, but the invitee mistakenly interprets it as an attempt to initiate romantic relationships instead of professional relationships. You can prepare some professional networking questions beforehand; it can be handy sometimes.

Be mindful of how you talk around others. You’ll want to come off as authentic, but consider the vulgarity and tone of your language. Remember that communication is a two-way street; practice active listening and paying attention to others during the conversation.

Your body language is also important. Give people strong greetings, like a firm handshake. Practice making eye contact when talking. Fix your posture and even your facial expressions so you do not look bored or aloof. You can also adapt to the vibe of others. If people are cracking jokes casually, don’t be the uptight one. If people want to talk about business, don’t try to steer the conversation too hard to a lighter topic like sports. 

Empathy

Understanding one's experiences is one of the most powerful ways to build strong connections with others. Empathy is an amazing networking skill because it forms a bond that others can relate to. Another way to interpret people with the ability to empathize is as having high emotional intelligence. Once people can relate to your situation, they will not only be able to provide precise information on how to help you, but they will also feel driven to do so.

Adding empathy to your relationships increases trust. There is a better understanding of how to help each other and the significance of helping each other.

One of the best ways to demonstrate this networking skill is through active listening. Be a willing ear for people to vent their frustrations. Sometimes, just asking people about themselves is enough to get them to like you.

Showing that you have some of the same weaknesses, insecurities, and frustrations as your network will make people feel more at ease. When people share things that are troubling them, let them know that they are not alone in their struggles. This will make them feel at ease, and trust begins to develop.

One element to practice is to avoid criticizing people when they are revealing things about themselves. Acknowledge that you’ve heard what they said and try to give positive feedback. The last thing you want is to make people feel uncomfortable opening up around you.

The deeper the topics people are willing to talk to you about, the stronger your connection will be, which leads us to our next networking skill.

Build Rapport

Building rapport is the foundation of how to build your other networking skills. 

Many of the tips that are used to demonstrate empathy can be used to build rapport.

Rapport is more than just understanding each other’s emotions, though. It is also about building familiarity and maintaining relationships.

When meeting people, try to mirror their energy and rhythm. As you get to know them better, aim to make your conversations feel more comfortable and natural. Building rapport often involves transitioning from formal to casual. Business networking doesn't always have to be formal.

An easy way to do this is to find common ground. Find some opinions you both agree upon and build from there.

The most important part of building rapport is following up. Once you’ve established someone as a contact, make sure to check up on them from time to time. Don’t let your network become strangers. Remember most of your career opportunities come from your professional network.

Sharing articles, inviting them out, or simply asking them how they have been lately are all ways to maintain strong rapport with your network.

Small Talk Leads to Big Results

Small talk is needed to break into conversations.

Don’t lead in with cliché topics like asking about the weather. Ask about something topical. If you both just witnessed a lecture or joined the same industry events, ask them what they think about it. Make an observation about the room you're in, the food that is available, or even compliment someone’s clothing.

If you’re feeling “fake” trying to start up a conversation, don’t. At networking events, people are already comfortable with small talk as openers. It is simply an invitation to start a conversation with someone.

However, developing your small talk into something bigger is one of the top networking skills you should learn.

Listen carefully to what the other person says, and use what they say to transition into the next topic. It’s a mistake for small talk to remain small; engage in something topical. Do not be afraid to talk about things that are not business-related, like job opportunities or career growth; this is a fantastic way to stand out and be memorable to others, as well as build rapport.

Stand Tall and Be Confident!

Everyone loves a confident individual. However, entering a room of high-level professionals can be intimidating. Although it may be nerve-racking at first, realize that once you start talking and build momentum, the butterflies in your stomach will evaporate.

The trick is to make it seem like you were never worried in the first place.

Act like you belong there. Adjust your body language: stand tall, look people straight in their eyes, say who you are, and say your opinions with authenticity and conviction. People will look at you as a person who commands respect.

Boosting your confidence is not something you can easily do overnight. However, a large reason why people feel insecure is their fear of the unknown. You can mitigate this by preparing for your event ahead of time.

Do research about the topic of the event or the guest speakers themselves. Go over some talking points that might come up, so you can reply sharply with little hesitation.

Grooming yourself and wearing good clothes will make you feel confident as well (and will certainly exude confidence to others). Getting a haircut before going to an event will always be a big booster for your ego.

Finding clothes that fit you will also make you look good and feel bold. It can be very difficult to find clothes that fit you off the rack, so it is worth it to spend a few extra bucks to visit a tailor for a perfect fit. You always want to be slightly “dressier” than the dress code generally requires. This will make you feel good about yourself, and others will take you seriously just based on your appearance. 

Networking Etiquette

Etiquette at a networking event comes down to basic social skills. Approach with a level-headed demeanor and be yourself, and you’ll likely do fine. But here are some quick tips to keep in mind.

• See what the dress code is and dress in a more formal way.
• If you notice a group of people engaged in conversation with a closed circle, it's best to allow them to continue their discussion. However, if you come across a group with an open circle, feel free to join in.
• Lead with a question or a relevant observation when starting a conversation.
• Make your questions open-ended, i.e., questions that can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no". "What book are you reading now?" is better than "Do you read?"
• Don’t share your business cards with everyone when doing professional networking. It’s more efficient to establish a connection before giving contact information.
• Flow with the conversations. People like to talk about different topics, don’t just talk about job search or business.
• Some events can have a lot of alcohol, and as you may guess, some people overindulge - don’t be one of them. You’re there for business.

Public Speaking

Learning how to control a crowd is vital to honing your networking skills. Commanding the attention of many people will also make you a central figure at any networking event.

Going to events with presentations will make you seem like an authority figure. People will come to you to network rather than the other way around.

Public speaking is rather easy but something that many people are terrified of. 

The intimidation factor comes from a lack of confidence, and a lack of confidence stems from a lack of preparation. To become a proficient public speaker, you should:

• Write down your speech with dashed lines or bullet points. Do not go word for word; just glance at your paper to see what topic you’re on.
• Know your material well! Don’t give a speech on something you’re not familiar with. Familiarity breeds confidence.
• Engage with your audience. Allow them to ask questions.
• Speak to the back of the room.
• Be mindful that your audience is rooting for you. They don’t want you to fail, so any minor mistakes you make are likely in your head, and the audience either does not notice or care.

And of course, most of all - rehearse your speech before going to a networking event.

Problem-Solving

A key to building your networking skills is improving your problem-solving skills.

Problem-solving will make you a more capable and smart person overall. Of course, this has many uses, but here is how you can apply it to your networking skills. 

It's common for people to encounter issues in networking environments. You can leverage your knowledge and experience to offer advice and support to help address these challenges.

Even if you are not an expert, just offering a simple solution to a minor problem goes a long way in establishing your usefulness to someone. Not only that, but people will see you as a caring and helpful individual, and that will lead to reliable new connections.

Knowing how to solve problems also enhances your ability to recognize patterns. This means you’ll also be able to identify opportunities in places where you might not normally see them. You may be able to network with individuals or in industries you may have overlooked before you became more logical.

The best way to improve your problem-solving skills is always to seek knowledge. Learning from various materials and industry experts and trying to apply them in projects or your work will lead you to become a problem solver.

Developing analytical ability and critical thinking while acquiring experience are the elements that make up a good problem solver. Applying them to problems and using persistence to solve an issue despite initial failure will build up your skills over time.

Soon enough, you’ll be solving issues for people at networking events.

Flexibility

Networking isn’t a science; it’s incredibly dynamic. Networking events are unpredictable, and things may not go exactly as you expected them to, but that’s okay.

Learn how to go with the flow, and you’ll find yourself in scenarios that will not only create a strong network but also fond memories.

Gain knowledge on a wide variety of topics so you can transition smoothly from one subject to another. Be willing to let others jump in and out of your conversations without being rattled. You’ll meet people who might want to go out with you somewhere after the event, and it may be beneficial for you to leave the event to forge that connection.

Improve Your Networking Skills and Go Network!

Now you know how to build your networking skills - go out and practice! 

Don’t be intimidated by meeting strangers; everyone is trying to network just like you. Be confident in yourself and what you bring to the table. Follow the vibe in the room, introduce yourself to people, and go with the flow of the conversations. Show that you’re understanding, compassionate, and a good listener, and hopefully, you can become a good friend.  

Improving your networking skills is incredibly rewarding. Don’t stop there, though; there are so many ways to improve your career—continue reading articles from Cake to learn more about evolving your skills.

--- Originally written by Chris Grudge ---