How to Network with Purpose

November 16th, 2020

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘networking’? Do you feel inspired or anxious? If you’re like me, probably a bit of both, right? While networking may seem intimidating and daunting, it can also be incredibly motivating and rewarding if it’s done right.

The opportunities that arise from meeting new people and forming connections are countless. You’ve probably heard people refer to getting jobs through their network - it works!

Aspire to Her recently launched a professional development program - Grow Your Career - for women in their early careers looking for a career change. The programming is centered around three tracks: (1) Setting Career Goals, (2) Building Your Network, and (3) Boosting Your Career. We’re currently in Track 2 - Building Your Network where our program participants are focusing on honing their networking skills and attending exclusive networking events with leaders that span a variety of industries. Recently, Danielle Letayf - founder of Badassery, a curated collective for mid-career leaders, led a workshop on How to Network with Purpose. She walked us through how she interprets networking, why it matters, and the steps to take to ensure you’re making the most out of it.

What’s networking? Danielle defines networking as building intentional & supportive relationships with people who share the same values as you.

And why does it matter? I think we all know why it matters, but here are some specific reasons why:

Growth

Exploration
Communication and professional skills
New opportunities
Mentor / mentee relationship
Friends (yes it’s possible!)

Are you convinced yet? Good. Now let’s break it down into actionable steps so you can feel ready.

1: Identify your needs

Before you embark on the path of “networking”, take time to identify your needs and why you want to network. Here are some things to think about:

What do you need most right now?
What’s going to help you get to the next step?
What’s your life mission?

2: Make a plan

Now that you’ve identified your needs, let’s get down to business. Make a plan and strategize how networking can best address your needs. For starters, make a list on who you want to build relationships with and why. When you start your outreach, make sure to be specific - why that person / what’s your ask?

3: Go for it

Reach out! The worst thing that can happen is they don’t reply or don’t have the time to chat. Be respectful of their time but be diligent when following up. People get busy so make your ask, but make their lives as easy as possible (e.g, directly attaching a resume when reaching out about job opportunities)

4: Stay in touch

Networking doesn’t end after the initial outreach and conversation. Be sure to stay in touch! You can do this through regular coffee chats and updates. If this is someone you want to build a relationship with you need to invest time and energy into maintaining contact. Track your relationship and take notes of your conversations so nothing slips your mind.

5: Express your gratitude

Always say thank you! People are taking time out of their busy days to chat with you so always send an appreciative note acknowledging their time and advice. It only takes a few minutes to write but it goes a long way :)

Those are the five actionable steps Danielle shared with our program on how to network with purpose. Remember, everyone is worthy of creating a network - whether you’re in college, just starting out in your career, or looking to make a change. All you have to do is just get started!

Helpful links on Danielle Letayf:
LinkedIn profile
Badassery profile
Aspire to Her interview