In my coaching practice, every day I suggest networking as a part of my suggestions tool kit.  Networking is an essential for everyone! Vital to:

• Planning your career

• Assessing your next step

• Learning about your industry and adjacent industries

• Building your skill set

• Understanding innovative and creative trends in your industry

• Collaboration around innovation

For years, networking felt calculating and intimidating to me. Being a people person, once I learned how much fun it is, my opinion shifted 180 degrees.  Despite the advent of networking tools, however, my clients continue to struggle. 

I am hoping to set forth some “networking ideas” to help the hesitant networker enjoy it!  Here goes:

Using text, email, or, God forbid, the phone:

• Share an article from a publication that would interest a friend or former colleague.

• Share or include the person in an upcoming event of interest.

• Help with a job search by making introductions. Those introductions allow you to network too.

• Offer general help or assistance with a specific issue.

• Reach out about a birthday, anniversary, or event.

• Connect two acquaintances that should simply know each other.

• Share a book recommendation.

• Invite someone you haven’t seen to coffee or lunch.

•  Include someone in a table at a fundraiser. 

Using LinkedIn:

• At a minimum, “Like” a post.

• Comment on a post, which will flag it to your network.

• Share a post which you feel is insightful and supports your brand.

• Share a job posting from someone in your network with your network.

• Send a note to someone in your network prompted by a post of theirs.

• Inbox a connection just to say, “Hello!”

 I would love to hear your thoughts in comments or DM.