How To Network
To Become a Young Leader
The Wolf Of Wall Street style of leadership is, undoubtedly, very attractive. Standing as a long soldier on top of your success, and reaping the benefits. Many buy into the misconception that they shouldn’t engage with collaboration or teamwork, because their success will have to be shared. Most people want to climb the ladder to the top and enjoy the pot of gold up there in solitary – whether this be academic achievements, a new career goal, or general progression in your life. But the thing is – there is an abundance of gold! The quickest, most efficient, and most effective way to achieve your goals is to work as a team. Everyone has different strengths, connections, and skills. This is why networking is crucial to being a young leader – meeting the right people with the right connections can excel your aspirations to the next level.
However, walking into a room full of professionals and attempting to cultivate relationships with them can be intimidating for anyone, especially if you are at the beginning of your career. If you find yourself being put off from networking, you can remind yourself that networking does not have to be a nightmare you need to navigate. It can all be done from the comfort of your bedroom and your phone or laptop (hallelujah for the digital age, am I right?) The benefit of networking is immeasurable – however you can remind yourself of the value by reciting the five R’s – resources, referrals, recognition, redirection, and relay.
- Resources. This may be an obvious one, but don’t underestimate its ability to change your life. If you are working on a project, then networking can provide you with different people’s resources that you might not have to hand. For example, someone may be able to build you a website, or help you run a social media channel, or plan an email campaign strategy, or aid you in conducting research. If you’re applying for a job, an internship, work experience, or an opportunity at school, then networking can provide you with resources such as links to useful websites, or conversations with people who have achieved your desired goal. These are all resources that wouldn’t be readily available to you without networking. Everyone has strengths in different industries, and networking can enable you to gain expert advice or help in an industry that you might not be confident in.
- Referrals. Let’s say you want to be Prime Minister one day. Sure, you are unlikely to be able to instantly connect with the PM. However, if you networked with someone who worked in sales, they could refer you to a customer they once had who worked in a lobbying company, they could refer you to a minister that they once lobbied for their cause, they could refer you to a useful government department – see! You are already making leaps and bounds in terms of your connections. The professional world is tied together with a little red string, and it is surprising just how connected everyone is – 23% of job seekers submit resumes through friends or former colleagues*1. Even if you network with someone who might not be at the top of the industry you’re trying to break into, or doesn’t work for the university you’re applying for – you’re giving yourself the chance for your name to be brought up into a conversation. With any luck, it will be the right conversation at the right time with the right person, and could completely change your life.
- Recognition. Networking with people doesn’t mean you would have to sit around all day pestering people for help or praising them for their work. It also gives you the chance to discuss your own achievements and successes. Networking means that you’re getting your name and work out there – and giving it a huge opportunity for recognition. Getting the right recognition can massively boost your social standing in the professional or academic world, and give you a greater chance of being selected for jobs, universities, awards, and titles. 31% of job seekers find job listings through networking *2.
- Redirection. Networking will, without sounding too cheesy, grow your brain. Learning about different people, the work that they have done, the subjects they have studied, the skills they have honed, and the industries that they are in is perhaps one of the most useful forms of personal development. It is an intensely educational experience to network. It is easy to become stuck in an echochamber of sorts if you are only talking to people from your community – but raising the bar and expanding that radar will expose you to a whole vault of new information. This can often redirect your goals. Networking might show you a different path in life, a different career you could pursue, or a different subject you can study. It will challenge and provoke your belief system, and can redirect your life for the better.
- Finally, relay. For this one, I want you to imagine a relay pitch. You are running on this relay pitch, your feet pounding into the grass, the baton in your hand. Breathlessly, you finally catch up with your runner and shove your baton into their hand. This is your networking. The runner in front of you snatches the baton and takes off, taking your network with it. This gives you time to catch your breath, and wait for a bit. You might even get a bit bored. Was it worth it? Did they just forget about you and their baton? Have you lost that connection for life? And then – unexpectedly, out of nowhere, they’re coming right up behind you with the baton! This is what networking is like. You may not see the results instantly, but they can come chasing after you just as you have forgotten all about it. I have had countless times where I have networked with an individual, and sometimes years later they have reconnected with me with an opportunity. Networking is like a relay – you have to be patient, but you will get your baton back, and it will often be a much sparklier, shiner baton than the one you had before.
Are you hooked on networking yet? If so – you may be wondering how exactly you network. Fifty years ago, networking meant going to a physical office or academic space and trying to start conversations. This hasn’t entirely faded – it is still a very valuable idea to attend industry events like conferences or workshops (you can check out Facebook and Linkedin for details of these upcoming events), but networking has been almost entirely redesigned by digital platforms.
Linkedin is a fantastic place to start. Completely free to use, Linkedin is a professional social media platform that was designed to network. Not only is it an official jobsite, but it also has entire communities on the website wanting to make connections and start conversations. Making your Linkedin profile as professional and high quality as you possibly can is essential to scoring the best chance at having professionals connect with you – check out our article entitled “Top Tips For Making A Linkedin Profile.”
Emailing. Yes, it may seem like an archaic concept – but emailing can be a great way to put yourself on someone’s radar. It is not always easy to get someone’s email address, but often people will willingly have their email address in their website, their Linkedin profile, or even their Instagram page. Your email should be punchy yet informative. You should let them know that you’re aware of their work and achievements, and you’re not simply spam emailing. You should be loud and proud about your skills and your own aspirations. And then you should openly request a conversation or ask if they have any opportunities for you that could be interesting. You’ll be surprised just how much one little email in your inbox can change your professional life! Check out our article “How To Write A Professional Email.”
Social media. Social media is, essentially, one huge networking platform. You can use social media to see other people’s work, and the best thing about it is that it is completely free to contact people. Sliding into someone’s DMs may not be the most conventional way of professionally connecting with people, but often people’s social media accounts have their email addresses, a PO box, their Linkedin contact, or their website links. Which leads me very nicely on to the final way of networking…
… a website! Making an online presence for yourself is essential for networking. Sure, it is useful to have a Linkedin page or a social media channel, but having an online website is the most sure fire way of ensuring people have access to an easily digestible, aesthetically pleasing portfolio of your work. Wix is one platform that is free to use, and doesn’t require any previous knowledge of coding or website design. Your website should ensure that you have your finest work on display, a little bit about yourself, and a contact form or links to email address/Linkedin profile. Check out our article “How To Build An Online Portfolio”.
To conclude, every young leader must start implementing networking. Trying to become a successful young leader without networking is like trying to run a marathon in iron shoes. Networking will develop your professional status, and provide you with high quality experience in your desired industry. Thanks to it being the 21st century, you no longer have to knock on doors with your CV in hand. You can network from a coffee shop, your bed, in front of your favorite Netflix TV show. So start it today! Connect to conquer.
Xantippe Steel
14th September