What do you do if your networking skills are falling flat in a business setting?

Networking is a vital skill for any professional who wants to grow their career, find new opportunities, and build meaningful relationships. But what if you feel like your networking efforts are not paying off? Maybe you struggle to start conversations, make a good impression, or follow up effectively. Or maybe you feel like you are wasting your time and energy on events, platforms, or contacts that are not relevant or helpful. If you want to improve your networking skills and results, here are some tips to help you.

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1 Assess your goals

Before you dive into any networking activity, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Are you looking for a new job, a mentor, a partner, or a referral? Do you want to learn something, share something, or solve something? Having a specific and realistic goal will help you focus your efforts and measure your progress. It will also help you identify the best people, events, and platforms to network with.

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Juan Francisco Meza Romero

Organización y Personas / CHRO / Gestor de Talento Humano / HR Business Partner / Desarrollo Organizacional / Clima / Bienestar
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En mi experiencia, es necesario explorar cuales son tus intereses, para con ello poder definir tus objetivos y ver si necesitas desarrollarlos, mantenerlos o mejorarlos, y así enrutar tu vía de desarrollo.

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2 Research your targets

Once you have a goal, you need to do some homework on the people or organizations you want to network with. Find out what they do, what they need, what they value, and what they are interested in. This will help you tailor your approach, message, and pitch to them. It will also help you avoid awkward or inappropriate interactions that could damage your reputation or credibility. You can use online tools, social media, industry publications, or mutual contacts to gather information.

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Juan Francisco Meza Romero

Organización y Personas / CHRO / Gestor de Talento Humano / HR Business Partner / Desarrollo Organizacional / Clima / Bienestar
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Entender y reconocer que sector es de tu interés, para así generar tu red alrededor de dicho segmento objetivo, así se canalizan los esfuerzos y energías con un fin definido.

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3 Practice your skills

Networking is not a natural talent for everyone. It requires some skills that you can learn and improve with practice. Some of the key skills are communication, listening, rapport-building, and follow-up. You can practice these skills by role-playing with a friend, colleague, or coach, or by joining online or offline networking groups or communities. You can also seek feedback from others on how you can improve your networking performance.

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Juan Francisco Meza Romero

Organización y Personas / CHRO / Gestor de Talento Humano / HR Business Partner / Desarrollo Organizacional / Clima / Bienestar
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Buscar cursos o talleres, asociados a desarrollo de habilidades de comunicación o de liderazgo o de comunicación efectiva, son necesarios para todo profesional; hoy el storytelling permite tener una forma de expresarse con sentido y captando el interés del interlocutor.

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4 Be proactive and consistent

Networking is not a one-time or occasional activity. It is a continuous process that requires initiative and commitment. You need to be proactive and consistent in reaching out to your contacts, following up with them, providing value to them, and maintaining relationships with them. You also need to be open and flexible to new opportunities, challenges, and changes that may arise in your network. Networking is not a transaction, but a long-term investment.

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5 Evaluate your results

Networking is not a goal in itself, but a means to an end. You need to evaluate your results and see if they match your expectations and objectives. You can use quantitative or qualitative indicators, such as the number of contacts, referrals, leads, or opportunities you have generated, or the quality of the relationships, feedback, or support you have received. You can also ask yourself if you are satisfied, motivated, and confident with your networking activities and outcomes.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your networking skills are falling flat in a business setting?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Assess your goals

2 Research your targets

3 Practice your skills

4 Be proactive and consistent

5 Evaluate your results

6 Here’s what else to consider

Business Communications

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What do you do if your networking skills are falling flat in a business setting?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess your goals

2 Research your targets

3 Practice your skills

4 Be proactive and consistent

5 Evaluate your results

6 Here’s what else to consider

Business Communications

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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