Ever heard this saying, “A person is as strong and rich as the people around him”. This saying means your network determines your net worth. The people you are affiliated with determine your strengths in times of challenges.
Networking goes beyond sharing information and connections. It embodies growth and also increases long terms relationships. A lot of business success can be attributed to having a strong networking circle and channels that share profitable information, investment, and connections. This is why to have a strong network; you must know who to network with and their relevance in your growth and career.
Here are reasons you must up your networking game
An avenue to trade ideas
Networking opens you up to a world of ideas. You may never know how much potential and ideas you have until you listen to people with ideas. Ideas come in when you listen to people and see problems you can solve. Other times when connecting with people, you realize your values align, and you trade ideas, providing support to each other and creating a lasting long-term relationship. Listening to people with ideas helps you realize how much you can do and improve your creative mind.
Increase Visibility
Every business needs to be visible to attract clients. And everyone that needs visibility needs to grow their network. This is a key lesson you can see in politicians. They try to meet with people on every level because they need publicity—march professional leverage on networking to stand out and attract more clients. When you offer quality service, and you share this with people around you, you can attract more clients. The more you connect with, the more people hear about your business or ideas. This opens you to more opportunities and can create a career path for you.
It opens you up to new opportunities
You are more open to opportunities when you gain more visibility and publicity. People start to approach you with ideas. It is proven that people with visibility and the other right network expand faster than those without these. Networking avails you the opportunity to meet with high-profile individuals and people with the resources or influence you need to grow your business. You can meet your superiors at work through the network, which can also open a great door in your career path.
Increase Growth
One of the best ways to utilize networking is by growing. When you have a great network, you see the need to grow, you may have a degree and make a decent income, and you feel you have done well for yourself. But when you have a strong network who are growing, it helps you see the need to grow as an individual. It allows you to see your potential and how you can be more and do more. Having a solid network and a good relationship with other people helps you grow.
Stimulate Creativity
Ideas, inspiration, dreams, and innovation are a product of where you are from and the people surrounding you. When people of like values surround you, it improves your creative thinking. Sharing your struggles with others and brainstorming helps you come up with a solution quickly and allows you to think outside the box and enhance your problem-solving skills.
Gives support
No man is an island. Humans need other humans for support and to lean on in trying times. Everyone at one in their development has passed through hurdles. Some of these hurdles result from a lack of certain resources. Networking gives you links to people who can provide that support you need in times like this. Support comes in all forms, financial, moral, material, motivational e.t.c
Create long-lasting friendships and relationship
The main aim of networking is to build relationships and gain mutual trust. People who network to develop a two-way beneficial relationship can gain career-based friends. Networking rightly can give you loyal clients or friends with who you have gained their trust, and they would remain loyal to you and your business in all things.