How to Be a Great Networker

"The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work."

Robert Kiyosaki

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No matter where you go or whom you talk to, people always say, “it’s all about who you know.” Question is, how can you make sure you are an efficient networker? Sometimes we might not feel like networking and putting ourselves out there, but the truth is, we network everywhere we go with everyone we meet. Every day, we meet someone new who could potentially bring us a new opportunity. Personally, I meet new people every day who have different experiences and walks of life and I am always networking. I was always taught to never overlook an individual and what he or she brings to the table.

Harvard Business Review published an article that discusses how to network. Networking is definitely a skill that is easily obtainable, but understanding some of the guidelines on how to network could potentially help you for the future.

One of the first things mentioned is to focus on finding common interests. “The next step in making networking more palatable is to think about how your interests and goals align with those of people you meet and how that can help you forge meaningful work relationships. … When your networking is driven by shared interests, it will feel more authentic.”

Entrepreneur.com also published an article about how to network especially for those individuals who don’t like to. One of the interesting points they brought up is that if you don’t know how to assert yourself and go meet people, play a game for luck. “Before you go into the party, pick a color. Once inside, you need to talk to everyone wearing that color before you can leave. It helps you talk to people you wouldn’t otherwise meet.”

When you meet someone, assert yourself and make him or her aware of the insights and knowledge you possess. “Junior people are often better informed than their senior colleagues about generational trends and new technologies,” says hbr.org. Create that two-way relationship where you are telling the other individual what you can bring to the table, and then find out what he or she is knowledgeable about.

A quick tip is not to “ stress about winning people over. The best opening lines are simple,” says entrepreneur.com. Make a lasting first impression and have casual conversations with interesting topics.