SEVEN STEPS TO A PERSONAL NETWORK

The benefit of a personal relationship network is to have constant business friends who are watching out for you at all times throughout your entire working life. If you don't have a network now, you can start one at any time, in high school, college, mid-career or even in retirement.

To start a personal network¾or build an existing one¾follow these seven steps (don't worry about the order):

1.  Learn the fundamentals

Read the Networking Basics.

Look through the FAQs.

2.  Develop a clear objective

Setting a goal and timetable will motivate you to network and make it easier for your contacts to help you. Sample objectives include finding a job, starting a business, raising money or obtaining knowledge. While it's realistic to have more than one objective, it's best to communicate them one at a time when you ask your contacts for help.

3.  Decide on the mechanics

Set up your network online or manually. The key is not to depend on the system itself. It's the people in your network that count. 

4.  Invite people

Start by inviting everyone you know to join your network. Besides business contacts, some people also invite friends and relatives. Invite people in person, or call or email them. If you use a commercial networking system to invite contacts, try to make the invitations as personal as possible. The goal is to tell people you've set up a personal business relationship network and would be pleased if they would join.

5.  Keep in touch

Whenever you have an opportunity, speak with each of your contacts on the phone or meet them in person. When you speak with someone for the first time, keep the following in mind:

• Get comfortable right away, avoid formal words (like "sir" and "ma'am"). Imagine you're speaking with an old friend.

• Don't dominate the conversation. Take a genuine interest in the other person, and ask them how you can help them.

6.  Offer to (and ask for) help

Create "social capital" by offering to help (and asking for help from) the people in your network. For more on helping, see the FAQs. 

7.  Grow your network

It's natural to start a network with the people you already know, but it's a lot more rewarding to invite people you haven't met, especially friends of friends. Get in the habit of asking new people to join your network whenever the opportunity arises. Your network grows more valuable with each new contact you add.

To offer feedback on this page, please contact us. To learn more about networking, see the FAQs. Please note: applicable material shown on this page will be conformed to RNIA standards as they become available.