Article

Building genuine connections

Danica Histed 5 min read

Your network is a big deal.

The value of your network is priceless and one of your biggest assets.

No matter what stage you're at, starting a business, studying, job hunting, or staying put, your network will change but your focus on growing it shouldn’t. Building and using your network strategically opens doors to new opportunities, insights, partnerships, and mentorship. It’s all about connecting with, and staying connected to, the right people.

Here are a few reminders to keep in mind for building your network and making every interaction a chance to learn.

The power of relationships

The saying “It’s who you know, not what you know” holds some truth. While expertise is important, actively connecting with peers elevates your impact. The key is active engagement - how you interact with others shapes the strength and power of your relationships.

So, how should you engage with your network in a way that benefits you both?

Sharpen your communication skills. Articulating the spiel, the latest and greatest in your world and highlighting topics that are meaningful to another person requires skill. It sounds easy but practice is needed. Why not use AI to help? Online tools such as ChatGPT or Perplexity can summarise interesting talking points or recommend reading to clue you up on any topics at hand. Developing these skills will help you to become a better communicator, presenter, and problem solver to “share ideas without oversharing or dominating conversations”..”
Be curious, listen. If it’s a new connection, be authentic and get to know what genuinely makes them tick. What are their interests? What’s their background? What sectors are they interested in? How do they spend their time outside of work? What are they working on right now? Are they facing any challenges? Show interest, and avoid pivoting the conversation back to you (especially if it’s a low-grade boast about your success) - you’re robbing airtime from your new connection, and they’ll likely form “a low-grade envy and dislike.”

It’s a two-way thing. Pay it forward. Your connections will appreciate meaningful insights, fresh perspectives, and idea sharing. Asking something as simple as, "How can I help you?" or introducing them to others in your network can go a long way. As Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn’s co-founder, says “Your network is the people who want to help you, and you want to help them, and that’s really powerful.”
Prioritise quality. Focus your energy on meaningful, trusting relationships over superficial contacts. Building your network takes time, and fewer, authentic connections will be far more valuable. It's far better to leave a networking event with one or two meaningful connections than dozens of LinkedIn contacts you barely spoke to and probably won’t follow up with.

5 practical tips for effective networking

Make a plan.

'If traditional, unstructured, networking event formats fill you with dread (and you're introverted like me), make a plan for the event. If you can, check who’s attending - who has similar interests? What are your topics of conversation? Feeling prepared will ease any feelings of discomfort, you'll find adapting this plan in situ far easier than developing one on the spot!
Just say hello.

People attending a networking event will be there to meet people. Your chance of rejection is low and others will be feeling the same. Open a conversation with “What brings you here today?” or “How do you know (insert organiser)?"
Get personal.

Use your judgement with this one, but if your new connection highlights a hobby or how they spend time outside of work, why not find out more about their passion? Ask, “How did you get into that?” or “How often do you play?” You may find it easier to break the ice and connect over a shared interest.
Making an exit.

Be polite and clear. Ending a conversation with “It was great to meet you” is respectful and signals you’re closing the conversation. Your contact is here to speak with others too. Don’t be tempted to lie, e.g., I'm leaving now", when you have no intention to, getting caught out is a quick route to leaving a bad impression.
Follow up and through.

You’d be surprised how many people don’t. When you’ve promised and forget to send something over, it’s easy to develop an unreliable brand if you’re a new connection. Add a reminder in your diary to drop them a note in a few months or ask them if they would like to set up a recurring meeting (coffee, lunch, chat, etc.); equally, if you find something relevant - an article, event, investment opportunity - share it. Alternatively, consider sending a personalised note on recent news and updates. For example, did they recently get a promotion or has their company landed a shiny new deal. A simple LinkedIn like or comment helps, but a thoughtful message shows real support and builds trust. I’ll cover tools for managing your network in my next post.