Professional network: 5 steps to create and maintain it

Your professional network is made up of different types of people or groups of people. For example, these are your former classmates from your school or university. They can also be your former work colleagues but also people connected to your professional expertise in other sectors or other companies. In short, they are people with whom you will cultivate long-term relationships to both feed you with ideas and information, but also exchange, share and give. So, what are the steps to create, optimize and maintain your professional network?

‍

‍

1st step: define goals for this professional network

For example, maybe you are currently considering your next professional step? Or are you planning to launch a particularly innovative product? To help you with these projects you may need to expand your network of people who can inspire you or share their success and experience. Another example is the need to make yourself visible within your sector of activity. Creating and maintaining a quality professional network will help you mark your expertise and communicate around your talents.

‍

2nd step: map the members of your professional network.

Once you know why you really need to cultivate your network (see step 1), it's time to do a little mapping work. For example, use a piece of paper to study your first circle. What do we call 1st circle? These are the people you know well. Within your company for example, but also externally. Your classmates, the people you already talk to and who work in other companies. Once people have been identified, ask yourself what type of relationship do you have with them. Do you see them frequently? Should you spend more time with them? The 2nd circle is the people you know less, whom you see less frequently but whom you will benefit from getting to know more. Finally, the 3rd circle is the people you do not yet know but whom you should get closer to because they may be interesting in relation to one of the objectives you have previously defined. If you are in the process of launching an innovative new product, and you know that this or that group has launched a similar product in the past, get closer to this one. Talk to this researcher or expert to ask them to share their experience with you. With that mapping work done, it's time to ask yourself how you could approach people you don't yet know. Typically those in circle #3. Surely there are some of your relationships (circles 1 and 2) that can introduce you to interesting people. It is indeed difficult to go directly to connect with someone you don't know. Going to see someone who knows someone who himself knows someone who knows someone you would like to meet is the magic of professional networking.

‍

3rd step: set up routines.

How much time are you going to devote to these networking times? Whether it's lunches, dinners, meetings, conferences etc... How will they be organized in your agenda over the month, year or semester? The time spent maintaining your professional network is not “Off” time. These are “real” work moments that you must make visible in your agenda.

Also to be read:

‍how to optimize your professional efficiency?

‍

4th step: prepare your “pitch”

When you decide to develop your professional network, you must be able to present yourself in one minute, in three minutes, in five or ten. Anytime Even if you already know the people, you should introduce yourself regularly:

• What am I doing right now?
• What projects am I interested in tonight, this afternoon?
• What do I want to say about myself at that moment?...

‍

Moreover, be in a debt logic: I give to receive. This is the principle of professional networking. Be patient and in a logic where, whatever happens, the more you give in your network, the more you will get.

5th step: take care of your professional social network — Linkedin

‍

Network codes are increasingly digital, even if they have not really changed. It is nevertheless essential to take care of your image on Linkedin. You are your network. Your network says a lot about your professional competence, your reputation and your influence in your profession. In fact, take care of your virtual network:

• Impeccable presentation of your professional career on Linkedin
• Quality photo
• Regular sharing of articles, videos or resources that match your expertise and that give a positive image of you.

‍

Developing your professional network: a recognized competence

‍

Finally, professionalizing your network is a real skill and is increasingly recognized as a key factor in business. So, if you have trouble developing this skill, do not hesitate to watch this video several times, but do not hesitate to call on Talentis and choose a coach who will be able to support you. Either through your company, or directly on the “Click & Coach live” page on the site

www.clickandcoach.fr

‍

‍Discover our remote coaching offer to work with a coach on the creation and maintenance of your professional network. But also on many other themes around leadership, management, career, etc...