Face-to-face networking is commonly overlooked in today’s digital world, however local networking circles remain effective at creating lasting work relationships and opening up new opportunities. Whatever your career or position is, meeting new people in similar and different places is extremely useful.
Who Do You Want to Meet?
Before you reach out to anyone, you need to first understand who you want to network with. Whether you are looking for other professionals in your field or you want to support local businesses, you first need to identify this audience and find ways of reaching them.
If there isn’t a specific group of people you would like to target, instead you can think about your goals and then who would benefit from achieving them.
Start Small
Networking circles don’t have to be huge, and can even be more effective when smaller as interactions are longer and more detailed between people. As an early meetup / test, you could invite 3-4 people to lunch to catch up and share ideas. This would let you know what the dynamic between people is like and allows you to set the tone for the culture you want to build.
Choose the Right Format and Place
Networking circles come in many formats, all creating different vibes and attracting different types of people. Some common formats would be breakfast meetups, walking meetings and lunch and learns. The format of an event changes everything and should align with your goals or target audience.
If it’s not already obvious after picking a format, you need to find a venue / space to meet up and host the event. Some groups rotate spots, supporting different businesses in the area, so it’s not necessary to come up with a definite location. Make sure that the selected place isn’t busy or loud and most especially makes attendees feel comfortable.
Help Eachother
One of the most common downfalls in a networking circle is too strong a focus on self-promotion. Healthy groups thrive on mutual value by sharing expertise, offering support on others’ challenges and celebrating each other’s milestones. When members are receiving and giving value beyond just business, they’re likely to be engaged and recommend to others.
In Closing
When building a networking group, you don’t need a big budget or large numbers of people, instead you simply need a genuine commitment to share value to others. With time, your local networking group can become more than just a collection of professionals, it could be a trusted community where people can learn and grow.
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