Career growth is easier with networks-a fact and when done right opens many doors for an individual. Therein comes the obligation to lean into it. While this is a non-issue for some, a lot more people are uncomfortable with the concept of networking and regard it more of a necessary evil.
At Café Construct, we recognise the strength that comes with making new connections, maintaining old ones and making it a priority to get better at it, as individuals. This article is such a case, so let’s dive right in.
Networking looks different depending on where you are in your career path.
A student will network majorly to seek out training opportunities or guidance in selection of career paths. The end goal often being to find internships, bag post-graduate employment opportunities or seek out mentors and mirror in their growth path.
A young professional in employment will attend networking events for educational purposes. To learn from fellow professionals on current trends, share notes on what seems to be working in their company and what doesn’t.
Seminars and Professional Association events filled with fellow colleagues are commonplace for the student and the employed professional and Season 01 Episode 14- Networking Manenoz gets into this specific kind of networking, tips and all.
Different from the student and the professional in employment, as an entrepreneur, one networks to get new work from people outside the construction industry. These networking dynamics are completely different from that of the aforementioned parties. In this case, one is seeking business contacts that are mutually beneficial that will hopefully lead to growth of the company in the long-run.
That being said, this article will solely focus on networking as an entrepreneur.
What hope is there for the introverted business owner?
Business Practices are not only started by extroverts who love interacting with people as a whole, they are also headed by introverts who love being alone and in some cases suffer from anxiety when put in social settings.
How does networking look for these introverted firm owners or entrepreneurs dealing with social anxiety? Season 02 Episode 16- Engineer in Business goes deep into this. Part of the solution lies in finding a networking style that best fits your personality. In this case, it might not be during a conferencing event with over 1000 people in attendance, it might be a one-on -one interaction with a member at your gym during a workout session.
Another hack for the introvert is to partner with someone who will handle business development, a partner whose strength lies in social interactions. Construction company owners and business partners Kimari Ndonye and Joseph Ntimama in Season 02 Episode 13- Starting Our Construction Company lean into this and create an efficient system of sharing roles where one party focuses on bringing in new work and the other on executing commissions acquired.
Your hobbies will come in handy!
Meeting practitioners in the same field as you in industry- related seminars and conferences might not often lead to new work. Your peers at these professional events are not your potential clients. However, there are occasions that other companies might recommend you for work that they are not particularly interested in as was highlighted by our podcast guest, Engineer Mercy Mugure, MD at EngPlan Consulting Ltd.
The firm owner seeking to meet potential clients or build a referral network will need to interact with people outside of their field. Joining hobby-related classes and membership clubs is definitely a great game plan and a wise investment for business owners.
This scales down the concept of networking and makes it less overwhelming and more palatable. In Season 01 Episode 14- Networking Manenoz we encourage the entrepreneur to lean into these hobbies. It reduces the pressure involved in keeping up conversations with strangers as you already have something in common to talk about. A win for the introvert as well as the extrovert who dislikes small talk.
It is just as important to maintain old connections as it is to make new ones.
In the entrepreneur’s career path, one cannot afford to burn bridges. Your former employers can recommend you for work whose scope does not meet their company goals as comes across in Season 02 Episode 07- Starting Your Own Firm.
Your former classmates can be your future clients and it all comes down to keeping in touch., though not necessarily on a weekly or monthly basis. Eng. Mugure advises the firm owner to check in at least once a year, or even once every six months. It goes a long way to keep you at the back of their minds.
All in all, it is important to remember that networking does not always lead to a quick turnover of work. Someone you meet today might call you up months or even years after meeting them! The aim is to make them think of you first when they are looking for a professional for their next construction project.
EPISODES REFERENCED
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