Photo: Team Switchit at switchitapp.com

The keys to success can be found in a multitude of things such as passion, drive, determination, intelligence, self-discipline and quick wit – just to name a few. Although these attributes can significantly contribute to your overall success, not having a viable personal network can inadvertently stagger future growth, both in your business and personal life. I know you’ve heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Well, it’s true. Having a collective network of like-minded individuals with shared interest will dramatically improve your chances of success over time.

So, how can I build my network? You have to get out there, meet new people, make meaningful connections and nurture the relationships you build. For some, meeting complete strangers and building relationships can be intimidating. Even the best have struggled at doing this.

Here are seven tips to help you grow your personal network like a PRO. If you don’t feel comfortable with all the techniques, apply those that work best for you.

Greet people with a firm handshake and a friendly smile

Make sure your smile is the first thing a person sees when meeting you for the first time. Be loose, laugh, and above all – be yourself. Keep in mind, greetings differ by region and people. For example, some Europeans greet by kissing one or both cheeks. It’s a gesture of friendliness and companionship. Likewise, when greeting people of Chinese decent, it is proper to have the front of your card facing the person – hold your business card with both thumbs, towards the middle of your chest and bow while extending your card forward. Being knowledgeable of cultural norms will serve you well when meeting people from various areas or parts of the world.

Don’t rush

Conversations should take form organically. It’s alright to nudge the narrative in the direction you would like it to go, but if you are too aggressive, you will come off disingenuous, and that’s not okay. Instead, make good eye contact, engage in the dialogue and show a concerted interest in both the person and discussion.

Don’t stand too close

Don’t intrude on a person’s space by standing too close. It just comes off creepy. A good rule of thumb is to allow enough room between you and the person you’re talking to for another person to join in the conversation.

Don’t over-talk

We all love to talk about ourselves, but let’s face it; sometimes we can overdo it. And when networking, this can be irritating. To get the conversation going, ask questions that have a purpose and show a genuine interest in the answers. What’s key is you want to find out what the other person specializes in and how your skills or services can potentially serve a need.

Show goodwill

If you want to grow your network and make meaningful connections, be willing to help your contacts by providing your expertise to a request for help or answer to a question. Express this gesture of goodwill in a way that the person will not hesitate in reaching out to you in the future.

Have your information ready

There will come a point in the conversation when you and the other person exchange contact information, so make sure you have professional business cards handy. Or if you use an app to exchange your information, make sure your information is up-to-date. Providing a means to stay connected is vital in growing your network.

Follow-up with your contacts

After exchanging your information and building your contacts, all your networking efforts will be in vain if you don’t keep in touch with your contacts. Send a "thank you" email the following day. People appreciate the positive feedback. Also, send your contacts Happy Birthday salutations, congrats when they receive a promotion, links to interesting articles – little things to keep you top of mind.

The best interactions with people are the ones that happen again.

Networking is about building relationships. The best interactions with people are the ones that happen again. Get in the practice of utilizing your calendar (system calendar, Google, Outlook) to schedule follow-ups with the contacts you are most interested in building a relationship. Over time, these simple techniques will significantly impact your network’s size and value, providing you strategic life partners with a vested interest in your success.

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