Networking is about making connections and building enduring, mutually beneficial relationships. We should plan and work to include right people and positive people in our network and expand our sphere of influence. Wrong people or negative people are time wasters. Networking is also an essential part of advancing our career. You will likely get a job through who you know rather than through your education or work experience. Now a day, it’s not enough to keep our head down and produce superior work. We need to connect with others, we have to be vocal about our interests and career goals, and build relationships with people we might not otherwise have met.
is life coach, fintech analyst and retail banking expert. He is working as the Head of Retail Banking at ONE Bank Limited.
is a passionate public speaker, certified Personal Trainer and Corporate Coach.
BE INTENTIONAL
Networking should always be done with an intention, and not just to collect business cards and be seen. Approach networking as you approach your work: Set a goal for yourself and find a networking opportunity that meets that goal.
HAVE AN ICEBREAKER
It can be tough to walk up to a stranger and start conversation, no matter how confident you are. But having a line ready to go in order to generate conversation is crucial. We will surely find much success with a simple question, “What brings you here to this event? or what inspired you to come this event”. It works every time—it goes straight to the point and builds on your first common interest: that fact that you’re both there for a reason!
FIGURE-OUT WHO MATTERS MOST
Make a habit of meeting new people who fall under your passionate area or profession. Make a list of the 20 most important professional contacts in your life right now and keep regular contact. Beside wishing them on their special days, you should be talking to them two or three times a year. You should know what their interests are and follow up with them around those.
GIVE BEFORE YOU ASK FOR SOMETHING
It’s always worth the trouble to find out a contact’s desires and concerns. The chances are high that you’ll be able to find something worthwhile you can offer. Before you ask for something, make sure you’ve invested in that person. On that note, you should be thinking of how you can add value to a potential connection without expecting anything in return, at least immediately
APPRECIATE THAT THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OPERATE ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL
The fundamental element that defines the quality of your life is the people you surround yourself with and the conversations you have with them.
If you want to surround yourself with executives and successful entrepreneurs, you first need to understand and respect that the lives of high-demand people are fundamentally different from even most chronically busy people, Levy says. Their schedules are likely filled with travel plans and meetings, with scarce free time dedicated to family.
CREATE MEMORIES
If there’s somebody you want to meet, try to create a moment that’s memorable. This can mean sharing a special toast or asking a question that will elicit a unique response. For example, you met a startup founder and you shared an idea for this founder startup which they are not doing – He or she will remember you for sure.
MAKE YOUR INTRODUCTIONS MORE INTERESTING
Most people just aren’t interesting in the way they communicate, when people ask you what you do, we should try to be a little elusive just to create some interest. So, tell people you spend most of your time for giving them solution – financial solutions, if you are a banker or executive of financial institution. If you are a sales executive, you can tell “I try to solve your pain points or I work for your problems”. Benefit of different introduction is you can stand out instantly from the rest.
MAKE COLD CALLS
To get in touch with influential people, you can’t be afraid of reaching out without precedent. If you’re able to get access to their number, give them a call before their day becomes too hectic. Make sure, however, that if you’re reaching out you’ve actually got something of genuine value to share, as mentioned above.
WRITE EMAILS THAT WILL GET REPLIES
Sending an introductory email to someone is low-risk because the worst-case scenario is that your message gets tossed and your name forgotten. Keep it as short as possible. You’ll want to have the recipient take a look at your message and be able to give an adequate response, even if it takes them 30 seconds on their smartphone.
FOLLOW-UP
Be sure to send a quick follow-up email either later in the day or the next day after meeting someone for coffee or lunch. It’s proper etiquette that will keep you from looking like you’re selfishly using the other person.
ORGANIZE YOUR CONTACTS
If you’re looking to build a network, you could benefit from some simple organization.
Best Places to Network
Networking is a skill. It’s not just about elevator pitches and icebreakers, however. Place matters. The best places to network let you meet people under positive auspices. You share a common cause. You’re there because you want to be, not because you feel like you have to. The premise of the event makes it easy to break the ice.
MEETUP
Browse Meetup.com and find groups that interest you. You will see lot of events take place in Dhaka and other cities too. Then start attending meetups. See which ones you like best. Stick with those and you’ll make connections, guaranteed. Sharing a common interest makes bonding easier than at a deliberate networking event.
CONFERENCES
A conference is the perfect place to walk up to strangers, get to know them, and swap information speed-dating style. If you’re slower to approach people, giving a presentation or speaking on a panel are good ways to have people approach you.
EXERCISE/GYM
Whether you do team sports or individual sports done in a group, like a running club, exercise is an excellent way to get to know people outside of the context of work. Typically, most of us don’t welcome the opportunity to seek professional contacts while red-faced and sweaty, but the gym can be a great place to network.
COFFEE SHOPS
Some coffee shops are hotbeds for million-dollar deals and corporate types. Others are full of creative types. Depending on what kinds of clients (or employers) you’re looking for, you might want to stake out a coffee shop near you that they frequent. Become a regular. Get to know people.
TRAINING/ CLASSES
If you’re learning something along with everyone else, breaking the ice almost becomes a non-issue. Maybe you need that person to help you understand a concept, borrow a book or materials, arrange a study group, or lament about the material.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media can be a mixed bag. On one hand, you can waste days reading and posting mundane updates. On the other hand, if you link up with the right people and engage your friends or followers, social media can be a gold mine. You can find jobs, mentors, business partners, business opportunities, services you need, and much more. The opportunities are limitless.
VOLUNTEER WORK
In general, people don’t volunteer because they want to be slick or rip you off. Volunteering, rather, comes out of a soft spot, be it empathy, aspirations, or passion for change. A nonprofit or other volunteer event sets a premise based on those feelings. That makes it easier to bond with other volunteers over a common cause, even if your background, religion and politics are polar opposites.
ALUMNI EVENTS
High school, college or university reunions and alumni events create networking opportunities. Alumni events, breakfasts, receptions, alumni sports games, alumni interest groups, and alumni databases are better ways to connect under a common umbrella. You can also give speeches at events, making yourself and your pitch more visible.
TOASTMASTERS
Toastmasters deserves its own category. You can join Dhaka Toastmaster Club to improve public speaking skill and get some new networks too. Facing one of humanity’s deepest fears, public speaking, with twenty or so of your supportive new friends is an excellent way to network. Everyone’s motivated, and almost everyone is probably scared, too.
SPEECHES AND TALKS
Attending a speech given by your favorite politician, a talk by your favorite author or business personality, or any other event involving a person you really like standing up and speaking at a podium can be a good networking opportunity. Everyone listens to the same thing and has the same interest.
By Gazi Yar Mohammed & M Murshed Haider
* The article is an excerpt from the book titled “Master Password” written by Gazi Yar Mohammed and M Murshed Haider and has been published in ICE Business Times with the authors’ permission.
* Gazi Yar Mohammed is life coach, fintech analyst and retail banking expert. He is working as the Head of Retail Banking at ONE Bank Limited.
* M Murshed Haider is a passionate public speaker, certified Personal Trainer and Corporate Coach.
