5 Reasons to Start Intentional Networking Today

The beauty of a strong network, one you intentionally build, are all the things that happen because of who you know. A person can gain so much from relationships. Think about the people you know professionally. Consider how you met and how or why you developed these relationships. Think about what these people have done for you, and what you have done for them!

Intentional Networking is controlled, and carefully considered relationship building that is done for specific purposes and toward specific ends.

Our last blog focused on debunking the often-quoted statistic that 80% of jobs are found through the hidden job market in Canada. Today, we’re looking at the importance of networking for networking’s sake. One of the problems with that statistic is that it overplays the necessity of knowing people to find employment and underplays the opportunities for personal and professional life that are created due to a rich, varied network – at least from a North American perspective.

Here are the top Five reasons you should be intentionally networking, regardless of which stage of your career you’re in:

1. Your network can be a sounding board for your ideas: whether these are entrepreneurial opportunities, career moves, professional development or new suggestions for your company, projects etc. A network of great people can give you advice to help you solve problems or uncover your next best opportunity.
2. Your network can be a great place to seek out advice. They can suggest who to seek out for information, where to apply for new positions, or which companies to research. You have people to lean on, people who can answer your questions, and share learnings.
3. Your network can also be a place to celebrate success, to lament setbacks, and give and receive the support we need from each other.
4. Your network can also help you feel like part of a community and create a sense of belonging in the sector you have chosen. Creating a community around you through intentional networking activities, can also help you become a leader in the space – and this itself can create new opportunities for advancement, growth, and learning. This sense of community and belonging has always been important, but now more than ever.
5. If you are just starting in your sector or role, consider building networks to learn and grow more quickly. As remote and hybrid roles become the norm, connections become more important for learning, development, and advancement. There are studies and research that has shown that mentorship and connections are missing for young people in the workplace, so the need to create your own opportunities is a key to success.

Regardless of whether you are advanced in your career or just starting out, having strong connections can help in all aspects of your professional life. There is so much you can gain from your professional network and so much you can give back to it. Don’t sell networking short! Think about how networking can help you thrive in your chosen career path and how it can help pave the way for your personal and professional growth and development.

• Might it help you gain access to new opportunities?
• Could it help you find opportunities in the hidden job market??
• Will it help you grow as a professional regardless of whether it lands you a job or not?

Absolutely.

In our next blog post, we’ll dive into different types of networking and how to go about trying them out. We’ll consider Intentional networking, and delve into three forms – personal, strategic, and operational. Until then, reach out to a new person, or an old contact, and flex those networking muscles during individual coffee meetings. You’ll be surprised where they may lead! We’d love to hear your stories too – let us know what happens in the comments, on our LinkedIn page, or contact us directly to share!