I have always been a natural networker. Even as a child I had no problem talking to new people and making new connections. I am one of those people who made a short walk on campus longer because I would be greeting people every two minutes "Nike , how now?" , "long time Ify! see you soon" "Yusuf where have you been? ". One day someone joked that I should run for office because I would definitely win! Growing up I didn't realise I was networking and there were people who even made it seem negative..."this Chioma, you know everybody".

However with time I realised that networking was a beautiful gift that people would even pay for. It has helped me in my personal and professional life and I am grateful for the gift.

Recently, I taught a group of ladies I mentor/coach about networking and here are some of the pointers I gave them;

Start with who you know: Your classmates, colleagues, family, church member...there are people you already know. Try and deepen existing networks before you start looking for new people. What you are looking for in Sokoto may be inside your shokoto*.

Go out and network: Even if you are an introvert you must make the effort to go out and meet new people. If you already know loads of people then deepen those connections but still be open to meeting new people.

Join Groups and Associations: Professional associations are a great way to meet new people. Overwhelmed by a large group? then join a small group within the association by volunteering your services. WIMBIZ and Toastmasters are great organisations to join.

Pay Compliments and be courteous : When you meet new people extending courtesy is very key. No one is interested in being connected to someone who is brash or rude. Is the person you just met wearing a nice dress? then say so. After you have met someone a thank you or nice meeting you message will be well received.

Use Social Media: I have met a lot of lovely people via social media some who have actually become friends. LinkedIn is a great place to network , just find a common area of interest and reach out. Please exercise caution and use sound judgment as there are a lot of fraudsters and criminals online as well.

Add Value and show reciprocity: When you meet people let it not be just about what they can do for you but what you can do for them. A good relationship should be reciprocal so instead of having a long list of requests try asking how you can be of service.

Do not over do it: When you have just met someone whether physically or online do not spam them by sending them a barrage of messages or forwards or release too much private information. It could be incredibly off putting and crash that network before it even takes off.

Attend social events: While you need to put boundaries around relationships it is a good idea to also attend social events when invited by professional contacts. You do not have to be there for the whole time just pop in and show the host that they matter. Caveat- Don't do anything inappropriate like drinking too much or flirting with guests.

Stay in touch: One way to network effectively is by staying in touch. Like I noted earlier send a thank you message or note after meeting someone new, or send them a hello message on social media not just during festive seasons but from time to time. These little things can go a long way in deepening these relationships.

Networking is a great way to meet different people and is important in your professional and personal life. It can be what gets you that next job, promotion, contract or just a foot in the proverbial door, it could also give you long lasting relationships and a whole lot more.

 

*From a popular Nigerian saying, “The thing wey dey for Sokoto (a state in Nigeria) dey your shokoto (trouser in Yoruba).” which means what you are searching for far and wide is actually in your possession.