Be Proactive in Building your Network

It is important to be proactive when it comes to your networking activities. If you are proactive in your networking activities it will mean that you are more likely to reap the rewards and benefits of networking.

Here are some things that you can do to help you be more proactive:

01 Have a Networking Strategy

It is important to have a plan. We recommend that you write your own networking strategy before getting starting with networking and that you review this regularly.

Set yourself goals and have a clear reason for networking.

Further Reading: your three step model for networking

02 Make yourself available and be fully present when Networking in person

When networking it is important that you maximise the actual opportunity. Make the most of it by actively participating in the networking, by talking with others and by making yourself available to others. If you don’t you are potentially missing out on opportunities and not making the best use of your time.

Further Reading: Make yourself Available

03 Follow up and Keep in Touch

After an event be proactive and actively follow up and keep in touch with your network.

There are many ways that you can do this. From light–touch methods such as engaging with them on social media and dropping them an email to more in-depth ways if they are priority contacts such as meeting for lunch or coffee and having a follow-up meeting or inviting them to join you at another event.

Further Reading: Ways to Follow up with your Network

04 Use a Networking Planner

If you network on a regular basis and want to be more proactive in your networking you may benefit from having a Networking Planner. A Networking Planner can help make all of the above steps easier. A Networking Planner can help you set your networking goals, keep track of your events, priority contacts and follow up meetings.

Further Reading: Setting Goals using the Networking Planner