How to: Build your network if you work from home

If you work from home or you are considering working from home you might think that networking and building your network (both internally and externally) will be a problem. While your general working from home routine (which is likely to be sitting at your desk working) isn’t going to present many networking opportunities there are other networking opportunities that are available to you that you can take advantage of.

Develop a networking Strategy

Just because you work from home doesn’t mean that you should really be doing things differently – you should still have a Networking Strategy that suits you. It just might mean that you have a tailored strategy that works specifically for you.

Make sure that you write and develop your own personalised strategy. Here are some ideas that you might like to make sure that you include.

01 Keep in touch

If you are a remote worker and work as part of a larger team (whether they are based in an office or work remotely as well) it is important to keep in Touch with them.

• Engage in small talk with your colleagues when you are on the phone with them. Check in and ask them how they are doing.
• Keep in contact on the phone, on messenger, by email etc.
• In the same way that you would network with colleagues internally if you were in an office – schedule some catch-up time. When you are in the office make the most of your time there and have lunch or coffee with your team and colleagues.
• Make an effort to attend get-togethers that your company organises. This might be social events, training events, team meetings etc. If your company doesn’t organise these types of events – suggest that they do.

02 Add value

Go out of your way to add value to your colleagues and your network. Adding value is a great way to build relationships and support people and you can do this from anywhere including the comfort of your own home. Simply put people like people who help them.

Keep a look out for ways to help, to support, or to make valuable connections for people in your network. Social media can be a great way to do this.

03 Build your reputation as an expert / thought-leader

Writing and publishing articles and Social Media can be great ways to get your name out there and to increase your visibility as a thought-leader in your field or industry. Again many of these activities that you can do to boost your visibility and contribute by using your experience can be done from the comfort of your own home.

04 Network with other people who work from home

Working from home can be a great excuse to build your own local networks or network with other people that work from up by arranging regular meet-ups or catch up over lunch and coffee. Use the excuse of being in a different place to build a different circle of connections.

05. Do things you want to do

Forget the formality of networking. If you work from home the likelihood is that you have a better work-life balance (no commute!) and should therefore hopefully have more time or at least be in more control of your time to be able to pursue hobbies and other things that you want to do.

The best networks are built organically through common interests. So spending time being out and about doing hobbies and the things you love and using this as an excuse to meet people and build relationships. This is a fantastic way to build your network. It can also make working from home less lonely.