How to Get Better at Networking: Reach Out Before You Need Something

Get better at: Building a strong network

Today’s move

Send a message to someone in your network without an ask: Congratulate them on a promotion, send an article that made you think of them, or just say “hi.”

Why it works

Those small interactions make you come across as genuine, rather than as someone simply trying to get something, and that’s critical to building a network that advances your career.

Dorie Clark, a communication coach and leadership and workplace author, told Business Insider that you should avoid becoming the person who reaches out only when they need a favor.

That means networking shouldn’t begin when you’re looking for a new job. Even if you’re happy where you are, building relationships with your peers can pay off over time. A 2023 study of two billion LinkedIn connections across more than 7,000 companies found that firms with highly connected employees outperformed those whose workers were less connected.

Try it today

Reach out to at least one person in your network without asking for anything.

That way, if you do eventually need help, it won’t feel like you’re calling out of the blue.

The bottom line

Creating meaningful connections takes time and genuine effort that should start long before you need a favor.

Source

This insight is drawn from Business Insider reporting on the Dos and Don’ts of networking, citing commentary from Dorie Clark, a communication coach and leadership and workplace author. Read the full story from Business Insider’s Alice Tecotzky and Tim Paradis here.

It also includes information from a 2023 study from Harvard Business School about why companies should care about employees’ LinkedIn connections.