There are many factors contributing to the success of your business. As entrepreneur, finding every opportunity to achieve your business goal is essential. One of the most powerful factors to help your business grow bigger is network. Both personal and professional networks are important for your life. However, building a network is considered as challenging for many entrepreneurs even though it looks easy. Network plays important role in the business because it is the biggest source of opportunity.
Networking effort and how to make it easy
Networking endeavor is so challenging for many entrepreneurs due to various reasons. Some of them think that they don’t really have much time to do make the effort. Meanwhile, some other find it difficult to build network because they think they are not extrovert enough to do so. However, reaching out to people to build network doesn’t require an extrovert person or long hours. You can do it successfully with the right strategies.
Make networking as part of your daily activity
It is essential to incorporate networking in day to day activity and you will have time to do so. In the beginning of your business, it is normal to find it difficult to reach out to people and build a network. The point is to set your mind. Mindset management truly important in networking effort. First, make sure that you embrace it. Networking is not only for adding contacts but also build your professional presence. This way, your mind won’t get too focus on the networking process but the context and benefits.
Get to know the right people
Choose the right people to connect with through your networking endeavors. Reaching out senior executives with decades of experience sounds too good to be true. In fact, they are less reachable especially for you who just start your business. Thus, you can start by positioning your target. Instead of aiming high, consider the middle target. You can reach out junior mid- level people. They have enough experience and knowledge to share with you. They can answer your questions regarding to the industry. They can also be the connection between you and the seniors.
Aim at interesting people
It is important that you aim interesting people to connect with. You will have more opportunities to find those people through activities where key influences are gathered. For example, you may attend a local charity work or join sport teams to find people who at least share the same interest. This helps to make the process of networking easier. Or, you can also attend a seminar or conference where people in other specialties also attend to.
Networking could happen anytime, anywhere
You don’t always have to make networking efforts in professional or formal settings. Sometimes, family events or casual gathering can be a great opportunity for networking as well. You can ask your parents or families to make a short introduction to important people. However, you have to develop dialogue by your own and not rely fully on them. The non-formal setting surrounded by some familiar people allows you to feel more relaxed so you can make your networking effort smoothly.
