Leadership Insights: How To Avoid 17 Common Networking Mistakes

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Leadership Insights: How To Avoid 17 Common Networking Mistakes

By Forbes Coaches Council | Forbes Magazine | October 8, 2024

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Whether it’s meeting people face-to-face at a conference or building connections online, cultivating a professional network is a crucial step in reaching one’s career goals. However, many business leaders still make all-too-common networking mistakes that undermine their efforts.  Below, 17 Forbes Coaches Council members share their best advice on what to do differently to avoid these potential networking pitfalls.

1. Strive To Give Value.  Many view networking as an opportunity to receive something of value. This is a mistake. Always make it your goal to give value during networking events. Whether it’s providing advice, sharing a story or giving a referral, delivering value to others demonstrates your ability to contribute. This in itself makes you memorable and likable.
2. Consider What You Can Offer.  A common mistake is focusing solely on what you would like to get from networking relationships. One tip is to think about what you can offer—in terms of support, help and information—to your networking relationships. Are there doors you can open for them? Is there a course or book you’ve read that might be helpful to them? The most effective networkers think of it as building relationships.
3. Build Rapport.  One common mistake business leaders make when networking in person or online is that they mainly focus and talk about themselves and their business. Instead, they should be building rapport, connecting with others and looking into ways they can add value to others.
4. Focus On Meaningful Relationships.  One common mistake leaders make is focusing too much on pitching themselves instead of building genuine connections.
5. Prioritize Listening. One mistake business leaders often make when networking is focusing too much on selling themselves rather than building genuine relationships. Instead of pushing their agenda, they should prioritize listening and engaging with others by asking open-ended questions.
6. Lead From A Confident Context.  One common mistake leaders make when networking is not believing in themselves. Remember: Content is king, but context is the kingdom. What’s the story, or context, you’re telling yourself as you network? Leading from the context that you are worthy of connection and belonging will go a long way to calm anxiety and nerves. 
7. Converse Authentically.  Many business leaders like to speak to be heard, so unfortunately, some aren’t as good at listening. Instead of meeting people and instantly talking about what you have to offer, converse with people authentically to gain insight into who is in the room and their needs.
8. Make It Relational, Not Transactional.  Networking is relational, and you should demonstrate through your communication that you want to expand your sphere of influence and thought, rather than stacking a deck of business cards. Serving as a resource and adding value to other leaders can be rewarding.
9. Focus On Mutual Benefit.  Networking yields the best results when business leaders focus on building relationships of benefit to both parties instead of trying to extract gains only for themselves. It’s important to spend time learning how to offer value to new connections. This approach yields mutually advantageous connections that can be sustained over the long run.
10. Let Go Of Your Agenda.  Let go of the agenda and follow the energy; genuine connections will guide you to the right places, even if it logically doesn’t make much sense.
11. Start A Generative Dialogue.  Networking becomes much more effective when we do not lead with who we are and what we do (essentially our résumé). This feels like a sales pitch and a monologue. The most effective and genuine networkers I know always begin a conversation—a generative dialogue—with a person or group. Bring your curiosity, explore how to help and let the conversation evolve. It’s fun and not stressful!

The others are: 

Be Genuinely Interested In Others

Collect As Many Business Cards As You Can Instead of Giving An Many As you Can

Reframe Your Networking Mindset

Lead With Vulnerability

Follow Up After The Initial Connection

Have Two-Way Conversations

2 key take aways from the article

1. Whether it’s meeting people face-to-face at a conference or building connections online, cultivating a professional network is a crucial step in reaching one’s career goals. However, many business leaders still make all-too-common networking mistakes that undermine their efforts.  
2. 17 Forbes Coaches Council members share their best advice on what to do differently to avoid these potential networking pitfalls.  These are:  Strive To Give Value; Consider What You Can Offer; Build Rapport; Focus On Meaningful Relationships; Prioritize Listening; Lead From A Confident Context; Converse Authentically; Make It Relational, Not Transactional; Focus On Mutual Benefit; Let Go Of Your Agenda; Start A Generative Dialogue; Be Genuinely Interested In Others; Collect As Many Business Cards As You Can Instead of Giving An Many As you Can; Reframe Your Networking Mindset; Lead With Vulnerability; Follow Up After The Initial Connection; and Have Two-Way Conversations.

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Topics:  Networking, Collaboration, Listening, Value