The power of networking and relationships

Any worker or manager has likely heard all about how important networking is, but many may not follow through on efforts to connect and build relationships with people in their industry. Often, that’s because they do not understand the true power of networking and relationships, and how they can help you become a more effective professional — and perhaps even advance your career.

The fact is that networking is one of the most essential skills you can develop in your career, as it allows you to build strong connections with people both inside and outside your current organisation. The following are just some of the benefits that better networking skills can provide:

Stronger relationships with other professionals

The reason it’s called “networking” is because it’s important for professionals to build a network of people in their industry on whom they can rely. You should want to have a great connection with a number of people who have been in your shoes before, or are on a similar level to where you are now. According to NetWorkWise, this starts by connecting with people on common ground between you — your passions, where you went to university, your background, and so on — and using that to establish and continually strengthen your relationships.

Get a better understanding of what networking can do for you.

A better understanding of your industry

No one can truly know everything about what’s going on in their chosen industry, but with the right network, you can certainly gain a more complete picture. That, in turn, may help you become better attuned to potential opportunities, both to bolster your current company or your personal career. It’s always beneficial to be as informed as possible about the ups and downs of your industry, and a great network can help with that.

Advice, support and opportunity

Along similar lines, networking is widely understood to be important when it comes to helping you find new career opportunities, but as Indeed noted, it’s so much more than that. The advice and support you can receive from people in your network is truly invaluable, and even if you’re not just looking for a job, these kinds of relationships with key stakeholders can help you grow as a professional and advance in your career.

Developing inspiration and new ideas

A great thing about having interpersonal relationships with people in your industry whom you respect is that they can be a source of inspiration in ways you might not realise, according to The Thriving Small Business. As someone in your network advances, achieves longstanding goals or comes up with new ideas, you can see what they’re doing and get an understanding of how their path can, in turn, provide one for you.

With all of the above in mind, it would be wise to get a better understanding of what it takes to improve your networking capabilities. ICML’s tailored Professional Networking course can help you boost your skills and ensure you are getting the most out of all your business relationships on an ongoing basis. Get in touch with us today to learn more.