When I first started my business I honestly didn’t quite understand networking… Being an introverted extrovert, I would turn up to those first meetings feeling awkward and shy, not knowing what I was supposed to do. I didn’t know whether I was supposed to sell myself, and when it came to delivering my first 1-minute pitch, I quickly realised that my 5-minute PowerPoint presentation wasn’t going to work!

However, it didn’t take me long to settle down and start seeing what networking was really all about for me - creating genuine connections with people.  Now, some years down the line, my network has become my most valuable resource.  It has brought me interviewees for my Facebook community The Collective; new client referrals; contributors to my e-book "What I wish I knew..." - Pearls of Wisdom from 10 Incredible Women in Business; wonderful people who will act as a sounding board for my new ideas; vital skills and expertise where I have gaps; and invaluable support and friendship.

The most significant shift I made after those early days was in relation to my mindset. I learnt to approach all new connections with genuine curiosity about the other person, their story, and how I might be able to help them.  I love meeting new people and finding out all about them in my day-to-day life, it is absolutely one of my favourite things, so I simply started to take this same approach with my professional contacts. 

Nowadays, growing and nurturing my network has become an essential (and highly enjoyable) aspect of developing my business.  And here, as promised, are three strategies that have been most effective for me:

 Strategy 1: Map Your Existing Network

Go to: www.vickimessenger.com/mapyournetwork to get the full instructions for this exercise.

Consider ALL of the people you have built some kind of relationship with in the past, including: people from school and university, previous work colleagues, friends, family, current and previous colleagues, those you have met through your business (if you have one currently), etc.  Reach out to them with genuine curiosity, and keep building your map as your network grows!

Strategy 2: Look for Win-Wins

Find opportunities to showcase others - you could host interviews, comment on and share their social media posts, and talk about them amongst your network.  If you do this for someone, it’s likely they will reciprocate and do the same for you! 

You could become known as a connector of people – it will be noticed and much appreciated. 

Skill swapping is a great way to create a win-win, especially in the early days of having your business.  You will receive a service that you need in exchange for your skills and expertise, gaining new contacts and client testimonials along the way!

Keep a look out for potential strategic relationships and referral partners - is there someone you know who works with the same clients you do offering a different service? 

Strategy 3: Build a Community

In the 1989 film Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner receives the message, “If you build it, they will come”. If the community you desire doesn’t exist, build one!  It could be online, or in-person.  Facebook groups, like The Collective, are a great way to bring people together, but they take a lot of work, so don’t enter into that one lightly! 

Who are your people?  How could you bring them together?  Could you do a lunch and learn?  A coffee morning?  Or even a dinner club and have your attendees bring along another guest – the options are endless!

The most important thing is to make this your own.  Be authentic, be genuine, come from a place of curiosity and look for ways that you can support the other person, and you can’t go too far wrong!

Good luck and, above all, enjoy the process.

Vicki Messenger helps empower aspiring and early-stage female founders to confidently create, launch and grow purpose-driven, soul-feeding, authentic businesses that work in harmony with their ideal lifestyles.  You can find out more about Vicki’s services, along with more articles and heaps of complementary resources at www.vickimessenger.com.

Have you grabbed your copy of my FREE e-book: “What I wish I knew…” – Pearls of Wisdom from 10 Incredible Women in Business yet?  It’s packed full of insider secrets, outstanding advice, and pure business gold that will help to inspire you on your business journey, whatever stage you are at. 

And, why not join our growing community for women in business, The Collective, and find daily tips, tools, inspiration and mindset matters, as well as weekly live trainings and quarterly guest interviews right here.