Women, are you networking over the holidays?
Whenever my friend Emily hears the word “network,” she visibly shudders. She would rather schedule a root canal over the holidays than strike up a professional conversation with a stranger. However, she is gearing up to find a new role in the new year and interested in exploring some different avenues — so what to do? Whilst I am always happy to be a cheerleading squad of one, there is nothing more powerful than a broader network of women.
Research has shown that men’s professional networks are more powerful and effective than women’s in terms of exchanged benefits, for a simple reason: women tend to approach networking with hesitancy and prefer to use interactions for more socially-oriented conversations. Friendly socializing has its benefits, but maximizing your networking opportunities allows you to engage with a broader audience, share your skills, and expand your circle to ultimately expand your career potential. Being part of a community of individuals who uplift and encourage one another contributes to your personal and professional growth — and continued learning — and helps get your heel in the door.
This is the merry time of year for good wishes, and women are in need of cheer and community more than ever — so this is a perfect opportunity to reach out to people you may have let slip from your radar.
How does networking help women?
Boosted confidence & self-transformation:
A community of women offers value in your professional life, but often blends into your personal life too. Being able to fall back on others for support, advice, and morale can make a significant impact on your self-perception.
Research also consistently highlights the importance of relationships in women’s transformative experiences — shared feminine perspectives and narratives are usually at the heart of them. According to Hamp (2006), group experiences have extremely powerful and life-altering consequences. Networking relationships are often catalysts for transformation.
Learning:
By being part of a thriving community of women who build each other up, you also have the opportunity to learn from one another. According to Bevelander & Page (2011), women’s learning often occurs through opportunities like mentoring and networking. Whether that means exchanging highly specialised knowledge with others in your field, or picking up soft skills or salary negotiation techniques, your learning curve is considerably accelerated when you connect with people who have been down similar paths before you.
Opportunities:
Being tuned into a professional network also offers women a distinct advantage linked to pursuing their professional aspirations. I certainly found this to be true in my research on women learning to redesign their careers, where they unanimously spoke of the benefits of tapping into their networks. Additional studies backed this up, acknowledging that participation in networking encouraged increased knowledge, shared ideas, and career optionality.
How do I start networking and build a community?
Start with those you know:
Take out your contacts list, go through all of them, and put them into three different categories:
Knowledge: All the people who have knowledge in the area that you are seeking more information about.
Fans: Usually your BFFs, family, or anyone who cheers you on. Strike up a conversation when you’re home for the holidays, and see who they know.
Connectors: The people who may not have knowledge in the area that you are interested in, but they know just about everyone and can make great introductions.
Be proactive:
So much of networking lies in proactivity. Don’t hesitate to look up former classmates, teachers, or colleagues and send a personalized request. A lot of business networking arises as a result of genuine personal connection — so the more people you meet, the more likely you are to be introduced to the right person at the right time!
Attend events:
Online or in person. These days, there are a wealth of events for every single area of interest you could imagine, and many of them are free. Browse through Eventbrite, LinkedIn, Facebook Events, or Clubhouse to see if there are any interesting lectures, exhibitions, panels, etc. online or in your area. One of the best ways to build solid connections is to bond over a shared interest. When in doubt, go with a classic opener: “What brings you to this event?” It never fails!
Join digital groups:
This wouldn’t be a 2021 blog post if I didn’t tip my hat to the powerful online communities that exist for women. Some are more general groups for working women, like Ladies Get Paid, while others get more specific, like SheEO or Women in Technology. Many of these communities also host large live events or small community gatherings to chat and get to know one another. The best part about an online community is that it breaks down the barriers of time and space, so you can connect with women all across the world.
Of the times of the year to connect, this is a great one because ‘tis the season of sharing the merriment and thanking those around us. So why not take this moment to try out some of the strategies?
Surround yourself with the people who will help you design the life you want.
Happy Holidays,
References:
Hamp, J. M. (2006). Voice and transformative learning: A study of critical reflection and rational discourse in the transformative learning experience of economically disadvantaged women. [Doctoral dissertation, The George Washington University].
Bevelander, D., & Page, M. J. (2011). Ms. Trust: Gender, networks and trust: Implications for management and education. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 10(4), 623–642.