Networking — some people hate it; others love it. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, networking is an important part of professional development. Everyone has a network. Think about people you know well, such as family, friends and colleagues. You also have countless acquaintances: regular visitors to the facilities you maintain; members of your church; parents of your kids’ friends and teammates; members of professional associations you are part of and more. The act of networking involves nurturing relationships you already have while proactively capitalizing on opportunities to expand your network.
So, how do you do this? If you are interested in using your network for professional growth, think about the type of information you’d like to acquire from your network, such as innovative management practices, more industry connections and job opportunities. Additionally, consider the knowledge, information and opportunities you can share with others.
Networking is a two-way street — it’s important to give as much as (or more than) you receive. Therefore, when having conversations or communicating online, aim to learn what others need. If you have information that might be helpful in fulfilling that need, share it; hopefully, your connections will do the same!
Networking can be done in person or online, and can be very natural in many situations — such as at an annual industry conference or via LinkedIn. However, you are likely to engage your network every day without even realizing it. Each conversation you have with someone you already know or with new people you meet is an opportunity to build your network.
Professional memberships
Think about the professional associations you belong to — such as the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA), or the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Take full advantage of the opportunities offered through those memberships. Attend meetings, conferences, outings and training sessions as often as possible. While there, ask people questions to learn about their facilities, jobs, needs and goals. If possible, swap business cards or connect via LinkedIn to add new contacts to your network. Follow up shortly after the interaction with an email, LinkedIn message, text or phone call to further solidify your professional relationship.
In addition to being an active association participant, get more involved by serving on a committee or board or volunteering to help plan an event or meeting. This will help you establish stronger relationships with other members as you work toward common goals.
Use association directories to find members with similar positions or in geographic regions of interest to you. Don’t hesitate to send an email or LinkedIn connection request with details on why you reached out and would like to connect. For example, if another facility recently completed a renovation similar to one that you are preparing to execute, you may want to reach out to the manager of that facility to learn about their renovation experience.
Additional tips:
When attending meetings, events and activities, try to sit by somebody you don’t already know. Introduce yourself and engage in conversation.
Run for office in an organization. Even if you aren’t elected, this still shows your commitment to your industry and introduces you to the entire membership.
If you don’t have business cards, order some. You can find easy do-it-yourself options online.
Local organizations
Many cities have clubs that are free to join or have a nominal fee. These groups can help you develop your interpersonal skills and engage with people who have similar interests outside of their professional industry. Your interpersonal skills or transferable skills are often what make you stand out in a job application or impact your leadership ability, so why not enhance those skills while building your network?
A lot of people don’t realize groups like these exist in their city and accept people from all industries who are interested in the group’s charge. A quick web or social media search can help you identify some options. Simply search your city and phrases such as “social media,” “entrepreneurs,” “technology,” or “Toastmasters,” along with “club,” “network,” and/or “meet-up,” and see what you find. Most of these organizations have social media groups you can join, as well as websites where you can access information and a calendar of upcoming events.
You develop new skills through such organizations and build relationships with others outside of your industry, so you can serve as a sort of ambassador to help others learn about your work.
Additional tips:
If engaging in a new group sounds intimidating, invite a friend, relative or colleague to join you.
Step outside of your comfort zone and try something new.
If you find that you don’t enjoy a group, try something else until you find a good fit.
Volunteering
Look for volunteer opportunities related to your industry and other passions that aren’t work related. Industry events often need volunteers to help with event preparation and execution. By volunteering, you can build your network while applying your professional skills and expertise. Alternatively, it could be just as beneficial to volunteer to coach a Little League team. This would allow you to give back to the community while meeting new people and expanding your network.
Additional tips:
Keep an eye out for green spaces in your local area (a dog park, for example) that are maintained by non-profit organizations; they may greatly appreciate an industry expert volunteering to maintain their space.
Volunteer for activities that aren’t related to your field of work.
Thanks to online tools such as LinkedIn, it is now easy and acceptable to reach out to people you may never meet in person. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, create one. If you already have one, update it regularly. An easy way to expand your LinkedIn network is to reach out to people who are already part of your broader network. Next, connect with people you have something in common with, such as your alma mater or an organization membership.
If you send a connection invitation to your best friend, college roommate, significant other or cousin, you don’t need to send a personalized invitation. They know who you are and will (hopefully) accept your invitation. If you send a connection invitation to someone you don’t know well send a personalized message with your invitation, though LinkedIn might limit the number of messages you can send in a month.
Additionally, join groups and follow organizations and company pages that interest you. Then start engaging with their content. This will help you build more connections while staying abreast of industry trends, research and best practices. You can find suggestions on who to follow via the “My Network” section within your profile.
Additional tips:
Demonstrate your expertise by posting valuable content and engaging authentically with others.
Check your LinkedIn messages and connection requests regularly, and respond in a timely manner (within one week).
Take your LinkedIn relationships offline. For example, if you are going to be in the city of one of your new connections, invite them to meet for coffee or ask to tour their facility.
Now that you have a few ideas on how to grow your network, think about what you can do to start implementing these tips. Is there an upcoming industry conference? Set a goal to make at least five new connections while you are there. Every time you drive by the local animal shelter, do you grimace at the sight of their flower beds? Send an email asking about volunteer opportunities to help them care for their landscaped areas. Do you enjoy reading science fiction novels in your free time? Do a quick online search to see if there is a sci-fi book club in your city. These small steps can create new connections and help you grow personally and professionally. You never know; the next person you meet may know of a great person to fill a job opening at your facility or know someone who knows someone who will pave the way to your dream job.
Kerri Day Keller has been director of the Career Center at Kansas State University (K-State) since 2003. Her more than 30 years of tenure in career services also includes work at University of North Carolina Asheville, Denison University in Ohio, Northwest Missouri State University, and Indiana State University. Day Keller received a bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University, a master’s degree from Indiana State University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from K-State in May 2012.
Erin Wolfram has more than 15 years of experience in career services and owns and operates Career Advantage Golf, specializing in career services for those in the turf management field. Wolfram has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education, Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, and Master of Science in Educational Technology. She can be reached at erin@careeradvantagegolf.com