Sarah is a multi-skilled award-winning Author and proud mother from the UK. Her extensive experience in senior management and adult teaching means she brings valuable insight into various topics via her writing and public speaking.
‘Networking’ has been a buzzword for a very long time, but have you noticed just how many networking events are popping up in your area these days? Are you even familiar with what networking actually is? For those who may not know, networking is all about bringing people together. It’s about building relationships and sharing ideas.
These events can help you make informed career choices and even, unexpectedly, land an amazing new job!
People from all walks of life, all backgrounds, and all professions can come together and connect.
Some events may be targeted to a specific audience.
Some are free, while others are paid luxury events.
Some may be encouraged and sent your way through your workplace or employer, while others may be aimed at budding entrepreneurs.
Networking focuses on allowing everyone in the room to have a voice.
These events are about listening to the stories of others, giving everyone time to pitch their ideas, and making their presence known.
Everyone should have equal opportunities, and no one is better than anyone else.
You never know who you might just ‘click’ with (and we all love those unlikely new friendships!).
Networking isn’t just about career prospects, though. These social occasions can provide personal satisfaction and help develop a range of valuable character skills.
There is enough time and energy for everyone to shine.
What to expect from networking events
Networking events have certainly come a long way since my first experience with one.
Thankfully, gone are the days of awkward introductions and teambuilding tasks that made you cringe and shrink in your seat!
Making connections and building relationships is now so much more enjoyable and accessible to all.
Many events are virtual, meaning you can access tools and techniques without even leaving your home or office.
It’s easy to stay in a rut, scrolling through your phone while daydreaming about your own ideas, but taking small steps toward your personal development is where it can all begin for you.
As individuals, whether we are employed, unemployed, thriving millionaires, stay-at-home parents, or start-up companies, networking is vital for our success.
Getting yourself out there shouldn’t just be about ticking a box; it should be a regular occurrence for self-evolution.
Which networking events are for me?
All networking events are different, and some may be more useful to you than others.
Take a good look at what is available.
Look out for adverts online, posters in your local halls, restaurants, or colleges, and use good old-fashioned word of mouth.
Explore as many local offerings as you can, and read through the aims and objectives of each beforehand (so you have an idea of what to expect).
Many of the more enjoyable and exciting events are ticketed, but the wise saying “speculate to accumulate” holds true.
You have to invest in yourself and your future because, when done right, these investments will pay you back tenfold.
I also urge you to take advantage of as many free training and growth opportunities as you can, as there is always something new to take away from them.
Here is just an example of some things you may experience when attending in-person paid events:
Impressive venues
Interesting and thought-provoking conversations
Yummy food and drink
Training tools and resources
Success stories
Tried and tested methods (including failures and setbacks)
New knowledge of other professions
Insights for expanding on your own ideas
Opportunities for career and personal growth
Inspirational speeches
Goodie bags
Business card exchanges
Fun and laughter
The list goes on!
Ticketed events are also fantastic for raising the profiles of venue owners (no matter how big or small).
Everyone loves to capture their experience on their phones, so through a collection of promotional materials, venues can showcase their space and raise their online presence, gaining exposure and new followers in the process.
Still on the fence?
You may still think that networking is not the right fit for you, but remember, we can all start somewhere, and rest assured, you have unique mastery that the world needs.
It takes a whole range of personalities, differences, abilities, and skills to make the magic happen.
If we were all the same, no creative sparks would fly.
You just have to have the willingness to learn, from others and from yourself.
Even those who are busy working hard for someone else should make time for networking events on their days off, because most people have a new business idea or a goal they want to achieve.
If these seeds of creativity are not nurtured outside of your usual routines, your dreams will never rise and thrive.
It’s time to invest in yourself.
Pop that cherry
So, if you are yet to pop your networking cherry, you may not be ready to ooze confidence and whizz around introducing yourself to everyone just yet, but I can confidently state that the more networking you do, the more comfortable you will become.
There is no need for you to feel pressure at your first event either. Just go, observe, get a feel for it, and go with the flow!
I think if you ask anyone about their networking journey, they will give you a timeline of events and opportunities that have presented themselves since they started building momentum and spreading their wings.
Career opportunities, collaborations, investments, friendships, and transitions all come from networking.
Supporting each other and empowering others is what it’s all about.
Remember, opportunities are always there, we just have to be open to them and actually take action. It’s a crying shame to keep all of your talents to yourself when you have the potential to positively impact lives with them.
Go to that event or attend that online workshop.
Practice your conversation skills and confidently express to people what your passions are.
Do it for You!
Click on my social links for more networking insights, and please feel free to connect with me for personal guidance, career advice, or collaboration ideas.
Read more from Sarah Marie Park
Sarah Marie Park, Award-Winning Author & Wellbeing Advocate
Sarah is a 3 x award-winning wellness Author from Staffordshire, UK. Her self-development workbook has won 3 awards, which has propelled the demands for her professional contributions, by means of pubic speaking, newspaper articles, podcasts and blogs. Sarah is passionate about spreading the importance of mindset awareness to a diverse audience.
