Networking gives a lot of people the ick. It can feel awkward, salesly, and bring up feelings of insecurity or impostor syndrome.

But it's one of those things that will pay off in spades if you make it a priority - even when (arguably especially when) you don't "need" it.

So how can you make networking less terrible? Reframe your approach.

Make it about building relationships rather than "selling" yourself. You're not trying to win a new client or customer on the spot (although that will happen sometimes with this approach!). The goal is to share what you offer, learn more about the person you're talking with, and create those weak ties that are scientifically proven to support business growth.

The result? You and your product or service are top of mind for lots of people, and when the need arises, you're the first person they call or refer.

Here are some simple ways for the networking-averse among us to flex this muscle:

Leverage existing relationships - Reach out to past colleagues and contacts and ask to grab coffee or hop on a call to catch up.
Ask people what they need help with - Networking feels way less sleazy when you're genuinely interested in how you can support the person you're talking to. (We can almost guarantee they'll ask how they can support you, too.)
Focus on collaboration - Create win-wins whenever possible, whether it's partnering on a consulting project, co-hosting an event, or seeing how you can mutually refer work to one another on a consistent basis.
Join a Weak Ties/Strong Bonds dinner or Work With day - We may be a bit biased, but our events are a lovely, non-awkward way to expand your network in a meaningful and impactful way.

Grab your ticket for our August dinner now to keep building your community (and your business).

And be sure to scroll down for parking tips from RuPaul, a village of adoptable dogs, and the actual best way to celebrate professional accomplishments.

🪢 Laura + Lauren