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When you hear the word \u201cnetworking\u201d, most people have the same reaction \u2013 that it\u2019s uncomfortable, inauthentic, and just plain awkward! As a busy entrepreneur, time is precious and networking is an extremely important way to grow your business. On top of that, you also want to stay active, live a healthy lifestyle, have time for family and friends, and still have time for a hobby or two! Here are some creative tips for integrating \u201cnetworking\u201d into your busy life. These tips will not only help you to fit networking into your schedule, but also help you form more authentic relationships and get more out of your networking experiences!<\/p>\n
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, do something good for others and can be a really meaningful way to meet new people. Try getting a group of colleagues together to volunteer at a local food bank, shelter, or other local organization and have each person bring one new friend or colleague with them. This \u201cplus one\u201d trick is a great way to expand your immediate network. The next time, have each \u201cplus one\u201d invite another person! Make it a regular part of your schedule. You\u2019ll find that spending time together over a shared, meaningful experience will be a lot more authentic than in a typical networking setting.<\/p>\n
Next time you\u2019re looking for a place to work for the day, try skipping the typical coffee shop work space. Instead, Fast Company<\/a> suggests booking a desk at a co-working space. It\u2019s a fairly inexpensive way to meet new people in a professional setting. It\u2019s also an opportunity to show off your skill set to potential business partners. If you\u2019re spending the day blogging in a coffee shop, you probably won\u2019t even exchange words with anyone other than the barista. In a co-working space, you can strike up conversation with other professionals and trade tips. Plus, most co-working offices offer networking events as well.<\/p>\n \u201cSweatworking\u201d is a newer phenomenon that\u2019s starting to gain popularity.\u00a0Fast Company<\/a> explains \u201c[It\u2019s] a new hybrid concept\u2026 that lets you connect with clients, colleagues, or other contacts while exercising.\u201d Working out together can be the perfect icebreaker. As I told the Toronto Star<\/a>, \u201cOnce you\u2019ve done downward dog beside someone else, there\u2019s no way you won\u2019t have a great conversation after that\u201d. Not only will you have a much more authentic experience networking through fitness, but you\u2019ll also get to check exercising off your long to-do list.<\/p>\n The best networks are built by actually working <\/em>together rather than just talking. Side hustles and projects are a great reason to reach out to strangers you wants to work with, especially those in cross-functional roles that you might not ordinarily meet. Starting charity events, hackathons, blogs, think tanks, etc. are a great way to work with new and interesting people, and actually establish a working relationship. You\u2019ll have new people to act as references for you down the line, plus you\u2019ll have generated some good buzz for yourself in the process!<\/p>\n Sometimes there\u2019s just no substitution for a good old fashioned networking event. If you\u2019re attending an industry event, conference or seminar, a great way to get more out of the experience is to reach out to people you plan to talk to in advance. Entrepreneur Magazine<\/a> explains why reaching out before hand is a good idea: \u201cCheck Twitter for others who mention they will be attending. Send them a quick message. Share your name, your company and your contact information. Invite them to meet up for coffee or bite to eat. You’ll have made several connections before you even show up to the event.\u201d<\/p>\n About Smart Girls Sweat:<\/strong>Work Out<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nSmart Girls Sweat is a “sweatworking” (working out + networking) event series for professional women looking to be inspired,\u00a0meet like-minded people,\u00a0grow their networks, and maintain an active lifestyle.\u00a0We’ve perfected the formula for successful networking:\u00a0High energy workout + healthy refreshments + keynote speaker =\u00a0sweatworking. <\/em>To keep posted about upcoming events, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n