What is networking?
Because people use networking for lots of different reasons there are lots of different definitions.
A common definition could be something like: ‘developing long-term relationships for mutual opportunities’.
Although a reasonable definition, it has two problems. Firstly it’s not exactly very exciting is it? And secondly the very essence of networking is somehow lost in this description.
Perhaps a more productive way of looking at networking is to answer two key questions. “What makes networking happen and what is it supposed to do for me?”
Heather White, an expert in networking (www.smarter-networking.com) says simply “What makes ‘networking happen’ is when two people meet, they find common ground, they ‘get/trust’ the other person and at some point over the years to come they recommend that person to another, thus creating business opportunities for them”.
“Of course there are lots of other benefits other than just straight referrals” says Heather, “such as learning about customers and markets, meeting new people and potential partners, creating awareness of your brand, being in the right place for an opportunity, learning about things (all sorts of things), building collaborations, meeting exciting people, testing out ideas on people and so on”.