Lose The Stress, Network With Success!

We hear it time and time again:

Your network is your net worth.

Never stop networking.

Networking is an investment in your business. Spend wisely.

And with all this pressure — with the apparent fate of our entire careers hinging on our ability to connect — sometimes we forget that networking actually doesn’t have to be stressful.

In fact, it can be one of the most casual and organic parts of your professional development.

Like most things in life, it’s all about perspective. When you start to realize that you are always networking, whether you know it or not, then you can start to make gradual changes to get more out of it.

And also like most things in life, too much of it can be a bad thing. When you push yourself to your wits end trying to force connections with other people, you hurt yourself mentally and socially. You’re better off learning to maintain your composure, so that you don’t feel burnt out, or come across as desperate.

So here are our top 5 tips to reduce stress in networking so you can improve your career!

1. Lose the ‘tude!

It’s simple math: when you’re positive, you gain connections. And when you’re negative, you lose them.

The attitude you feel, and the attitude you present, are what makes people decide if they want to have a relationship with you or not. Whether it’s a colleague, a mentor, an employer, or a significant other — people are attracted to positive personalities.

And no one is saying you can’t have your off days. If you’ve been laid off, it’s ok to take some time to get your mental wellness back up to speed before you start trying to forge new connections.

Just remember that you need to have the right attitude to be magnetic in your networking!

2. Be social on social media!

Why do you think they call it “LinkedIn”? Because you can link up with other professionals!

Most social media platforms are all about networking. Whether it’s networking with recruiters on LinkedIn, or networking with your family about Thanksgiving recipes on Facebook — they all offer you ways to connect!

Jump in and join some groups related to your field of interest. When you’re comfortable, start becoming part of the discussion as well.

Not only will you be able to connect with other people, you’ll start to be seen as someone worth following. Then people will want to engage with you first!

3. Act natural

We all know the trope of the desperate salesman. Sweaty dress shirt, hairline receding from stress, clutching a vacuum cleaner like a personal floatation device in a rising tide of debt and self-doubt.

Do you even want to hear his pitch? Do you really think you’d ever buy what he’s selling?

And is it because he’s not calm, cool, and collected? I’d say so.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when networking, is that they treat it like a sales pitch. They’re desperate to sell themselves to another person. But you’re not going to make that mistake — right?

Of course not. You’re going to reach out to people organically, and keep the tone conversational. Because that’s all talking to someone else is: a conversation. You don’t have to try to get anything out of it.

When you connect naturally, you’re far more likely to get the things you want handed to you, anyways. Because when you make a subtle, humble, genuine effort, you make the strongest impression you can make.

4. Friendly follow ups help you make friends

Networking isn’t a one-and-done deal. You need to foster the connections you make so that they go somewhere.

But you need to be personable — not pushy.

Bombarding someone with emails and messages asking about new job offers is just going to seem loud and obnoxious, and they’re going to mute you in their mind.

Instead, send genuine, friendly follow ups with people you’ve connected with.

Don’t overthink it. You don’t have to write them a letter to rival Shakespeare, or write sonnets to praise their greatness. Did you see they shared some thoughts on an article on LinkedIn? Send them a quick “appreciate the insight” or even just a “cool”.

When you’re cool-headed about keeping your leads hot, you won’t just maintain your connections, you’ll grow them into real, beneficial relationships.

5. Turn the tables

Whenever you start to feel powerless and stressed while talking to someone, like a recruiter or interviewer, remember that the conversation is always a two-way street.

You have control over yourself, and it is just as important for you to approve of what they have to offer as it is for them to consider what you bring to the table.

So turn the tables on them! Interview your interviewer, or make your potential client sell to you.

And remember, you always have the ability to walk away. If you’re not comfortable with a certain interaction, reclaim your power by ending it.

Conclusion

When we network naturally, good things come naturally.

Our networking does so much better without our interference. When we don’t make a concerted effort to impose on ourselves, and on other people, the connections we need to create will come on their own.

If you can adopt these 5 strategies, even just one at a time, you’ll start to lose the stress and network with success.

Because we have nothing to stress about, except stress itself.

Lose The Stress, Network With Success!